Motorists using the Kisumu-Kapsabet Highway on Saturday, October 18, 2025, were left stranded for hours after a trailer overturned and blocked both lanes, causing a massive traffic jam. The incident occurred at around 6 p.m., bringing traffic along the busy road to a complete standstill.
Reports indicated that the trailer lost control while attempting to overtake before veering off its lane and overturning, making it impossible for other vehicles to pass. The resulting gridlock stretched for more than three kilometres, with stranded motorists forced to seek alternative routes.
Images from the scene showed long queues of private vehicles and Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), including long-distance buses, lined up on both sides of the road. The situation worsened due to the delayed response from local authorities, leaving frustrated motorists waiting for hours.
By 7 p.m., the congestion had extended to Kingwal in Nandi County, with no casualties reported. Emergency response teams later arrived at the scene alongside police officers and successfully removed the wreckage, gradually restoring the flow of traffic.
The Kisumu-Kapsabet Highway is a vital transport corridor connecting Kenya’s Western and Nyanza regions and linking to neighbouring countries such as Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, frequent traffic jams and road incidents have become a growing concern for motorists.
In recent weeks, users of the route have raised complaints over the government’s slow pace in expanding the highway to accommodate rising traffic volumes. Similar traffic disruptions have also been witnessed on major roads like the Nairobi-Nakuru and Kisumu-Ahero highways, where accidents and poor weather conditions have repeatedly caused prolonged gridlocks.
As authorities work to clear the backlog and improve road safety, motorists are calling for urgent infrastructure upgrades to prevent future occurrences along this critical transport link.
