Hundreds of travellers were left stranded for more than eight hours near Salgaa along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway after a major gridlock brought traffic to a complete standstill. The congestion, which began late Friday night, saw vehicles blocked in all lanes, including the side roads, forcing many travellers to spend the night inside their cars in freezing temperatures.
Motorists and passengers heading to different destinations across the Rift Valley region endured long hours of frustration, with no visible movement for most of the night. Many were left stranded without food, water, or any assistance as the jam stretched for several kilometres.
One driver, who was ferrying mourners to Kabarnet, said his journey came to a halt around 3:00 am. The group was on its way to pick up a body from a funeral home before proceeding to Baringo but was forced to delay their plans due to the traffic snarl-up. “The situation was dire. All lanes were completely blocked, and we couldn’t move an inch for hours,” he said.
Another motorist travelling from Nairobi to Busia recounted being stuck since midnight with no explanation for the cause of the gridlock. He noted that there was no presence of traffic police or local authorities to manage the situation, leaving drivers to fend for themselves through the long, cold night.
Traffic reportedly moved briefly around 11:00 pm before grinding to a halt again at midnight. The standstill persisted well into the morning, affecting both private and commercial vehicles, including long-distance trucks, public transport vehicles, and private cars.
Authorities later confirmed that the gridlock was triggered by a vehicle that entered the wrong lane, disrupting the flow of traffic in both directions. The situation quickly worsened as more vehicles piled up, making it impossible for any to move.
The Salgaa stretch has long been notorious for heavy traffic and frequent accidents, often attributed to the narrow road and high volume of heavy trucks. President William Ruto recently announced that the much-anticipated 160-kilometre Rironi–Mau Summit highway expansion project will commence this month. The project aims to ease chronic congestion along critical sections such as Gilgil Weighbridge and Salgaa, which have become recurring hotspots for gridlocks and delays.
If completed, the expansion is expected to transform one of Kenya’s busiest transport corridors, offering a long-term solution to the persistent traffic woes that continue to frustrate thousands of road users daily.
