Motorists in Nairobi are bracing for significant traffic snarl-ups as key sections of Mombasa Road and other major city highways are closed for maintenance and the upcoming Nairobi City Marathon. The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced that the Nairobi-bound lane of Mombasa Road between FUSO (Simba Colt) and Ole Sereni (Southern Bypass Interchange) will be partially closed from Saturday, July 5, until Saturday, July 12.
The closure aims to facilitate essential highway maintenance works on the busy A8 Road corridor. KeNHA Director General Eng. Kungu Ndung’u urged motorists to exercise caution in the repair zones and adhere to directions provided by traffic marshals and police officers.
During this period, heavy commercial vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes and those heading to the Southern Bypass will be rerouted to the Kyang’ombe Slip Road via Old Mombasa Road. Other vehicles will use a single traffic lane along the affected stretch, potentially causing major delays, particularly during peak hours.
In a separate development, Nairobi will witness widespread road closures on Sunday, July 6, for the Nairobi City Marathon. Starting from 10pm on Saturday night through to Sunday afternoon, major roads including Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway, Waiyaki Way, and Museum Hill Interchange will be off-limits to vehicles.
Notably, the Nairobi Expressway will be closed in both directions between James Gichuru and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from 10pm Saturday until 3pm Sunday. Travellers heading to the airport are advised to make alternative arrangements or allow extra travel time.
Additional closures include Waiyaki Way’s inner lanes (from Musa Gitau Road to the Expressway entrance), parts of Kenyatta Avenue, and crossings at Mombasa Road and Likoni Road. Critical junctions like University Way, Haile Selassie Avenue, Bunyala Road, and Popo Road will also be inaccessible.
Motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes such as Thika Road, Raila Odinga Road, Lusaka Road, Langata Road, and the Southern Bypass. Authorities have urged the public to plan ahead to avoid congestion and delays.
