Motorists in Nairobi have been urged to prepare for significant traffic disruptions on Friday, August 22, as Kenya faces Madagascar in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) quarter-final at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
In a notice issued by Nairobi Traffic Commandant Joseph Chirchir, several diversions and temporary road closures were announced to facilitate the smooth movement of teams, fans, and emergency services around the stadium.
Diversions and Closures
Thika Road is expected to bear the brunt of the restrictions. Motorists traveling from the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) towards Ruiru, Juja, or Thika have been advised to use Kiambu Road via Exit 4, with a roadblock set up at Muthaiga to redirect traffic.
Vehicles heading towards Mwiki from the CBD via Thika Superhighway should divert through Ruaka–Baba Ndogo–Lucky Summer–Nairobi River–Mwiki. Meanwhile, motorists from Thika, Juja, and Ruiru heading to the CBD will be required to use either the Northern Bypass or Kiambu Road due to a roadblock at the Ruiru interchange.
For those traveling from Githurai to the CBD, the recommended route will be through Githurai 44 connecting to Kiambu Road. Fans heading to Kasarani Stadium from the CBD without official vehicle access passes will only be allowed to use the service lanes at Exit 7 and Exit 8.
Security and Management
The National Police Service has confirmed that additional officers will be deployed across the affected areas to ease congestion and enforce compliance. Police have warned that stern action will be taken against violators who attempt to flout the traffic measures.
Notably, this is the first time since the start of CHAN 2024 that traffic disruptions have been announced without involving the roads around Nyayo Stadium. Nyayo, which hosted the Algeria vs Niger clash on August 18, will not stage any further CHAN fixtures.
The Kasarani quarter-final between Kenya and Madagascar is expected to draw massive crowds, with anticipation running high as the Harambee Stars chase a spot in the semi-finals. The only other CHAN match scheduled in Kenya after this tie will be the grand final on August 30.
