It was a long and frustrating night for hundreds of motorists stuck along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway after a major traffic jam brought the busy route to a standstill.
The traffic started around 7pm on Tuesday. It was triggered by a collision involving two trailers near the Gilgil weighbridge. It quickly spiraled into chaos.
Drivers attempting to overlap blocked both lanes, making an already bad situation worse.
“I’ve been here since sunset,” said one exhausted passenger who spoke from the roadside just before midnight. “We haven’t moved in hours. People are switching off engines, some are even sleeping in their cars.”By dawn, the jam had stretched for over 40 kilometers, affecting both private and public vehicles. Several commuters were seen abandoning vehicles altogether, opting to walk in the dark in search of lodging or a way around the jam.
The Motorists Association of Kenya called out the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and traffic police for failing to respond swiftly.
In a statement released the group said such gridlocks could be avoided with proper planning and enforcement.
“This isn’t the first time the Gilgil area has choked under traffic,” the statement read. “We urge KeNHA and the National Police Service to step in and manage the situation before it becomes the norm.”Last month, President William Ruto announced plans to expand the Nairobi-Nakuru route, citing it as critical to national trade and transport.
“We expect contractors to begin work in August, and we want to see real progress by 2027,” Ruto said during a June meeting with Nakuru leaders.On Tuesday, KeNHA confirmed that two companies had already submitted proposals for the expansion, with another under review.
While long-term solutions may be in motion, those caught in Tuesday night’s jam were left to deal with the immediate reality of a cold night on the tarmac and no clear end in sight.
