The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has established the main cause of the traffic congestion experienced on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway.
According to the agency, the snarl-up experienced on the road was due to indiscipline on the side of most motorists.
"KeNHA wishes to notify motorists travelling between Nairobi and Nakuru that there has been a significant increase in traffic volumes, leading to congestion at various sections of the road. The congestion is largely due to lane indiscipline and overlapping," the agency said.
Motorists and travellers on the highway were caught in a gridlock that lasted hours, causing journey delays.
According to KeNHA, all that was occasioned by motorists overlapping on the highway and others failing to observe lane discipline.
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It called on the motorists to adhere to the traffic rules and comply with the directives of the traffic police officers on the ground.
"Road users are urged to exercise patience, avoid overlapping, and strictly follow directions issued by traffic police officers and marshals to prevent prolonged delays," KeNHA said.
"Motorists are reminded not to drive on opposing lanes of the dual carriageway, even when traffic on the climbing lanes is slow-moving. KeNHA wishes all motorists a safe journey and a happy festive season," it added.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto described last month’s launch of the road‑dualling project as long overdue, noting that it will ease congestion along the busy trunk route.
He assured Kenyans that with construction already in progress, traffic flow will improve significantly by late next year.
Ruto emphasised that this year’s festive season would be the last time travellers from Nairobi endure severe gridlock, adding that while the entire project may not be finished by the end of next year, the most problematic sections will be completed.
“The only year people will face the kind of traffic we’ve always known on this road, endless jams, hours wasted, and late arrivals home after Christmas, is this one. By December next year, the critical sections will be clear, and by June 2027, the entire project will be complete, ending the heavy traffic, frequent accidents, and time wastage,”
The dualling works were officially launched on November 28, following Ruto’s consultations with senior officials from China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).
Its subsidiary, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has been contracted to carry out the project.
Ruto also revealed that another major stretch of the highway will be expanded concurrently.
Meanwhile, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) confirmed that negotiations are nearing completion with two firms selected to lead the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit and Rironi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha highway projects.
Acting Director General Luka Kimeli stated on November 5 that KeNHA had complied fully with the Public‑Private Partnerships (PPP) Act during the evaluation of proposals.
He explained that the submissions were reviewed under Section 43(9) of the Act, with the Evaluation Report forwarded to the PPP Directorate for consideration.
Kimeli added that the PPP Committee approved the findings, naming CRBC and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Consortium as the preferred bidders for the projects.
