Motorists endured long hours of frustration on Friday night and Saturday morning after major traffic snarl-ups paralyzed movement along the Nairobi-Narok and Kisumu-Ahero highways. The incidents left passengers stranded and highlighted the persistent challenge of traffic congestion on Kenya’s busy road networks.
The worst hit was the Nairobi-Narok highway at Mai Mahiu, where traffic came to a standstill for hours. Reports indicate the gridlock, which began around 9 p.m., was triggered by rampant lane indiscipline and motorists overlapping. The resulting jam stretched over 21 kilometres, completely blocking the single carriageway in both directions.
Despite efforts by police to ease the congestion, movement remained restricted well into Saturday morning. By 5 a.m., weary passengers were seen alighting from vehicles and seeking rest in nearby hotels as drivers attempted to navigate the gridlock. Images from the scene showed private cars, Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), and long-distance buses stuck bumper-to-bumper, with no immediate solution in sight.
Authorities urged motorists planning to use the highway to consider alternative routes to avoid further inconveniences. Traffic congestion along the Nairobi-Narok corridor has been a recurring issue despite repeated government assurances to address the situation through infrastructure expansion and better enforcement of road discipline.
Meanwhile, a similar crisis unfolded on the Kisumu-Ahero road, where a gridlock spanning nearly 20 kilometres brought transport to a standstill. The snarl-up was triggered by a funeral procession for 27 accident victims who perished in a recent crash along the Kisumu-Kakamega highway. Traffic police and marshals were dispatched to the area to manage the situation and restore order.
The chaos came just two days after motorists plying the Nairobi-Mombasa highway were stuck for hours between Wednesday night and Thursday morning following congestion around the Mazeras area. According to the Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association of Kenya (LODDCA), the incident once again underscored the urgent need for coordinated traffic management on major highways.
With highways repeatedly grinding to a halt, road users are calling for tougher enforcement of traffic laws and sustainable solutions to ease congestion on Kenya’s busiest transport corridors.
