The Kenya National Highways Authority has responded after hundreds of motorists experienced a traffic snarl-up on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway that lasted for more than 15 hours, forcing many to spend the night on the road.
The congestion, which began around 6 pm on Thursday, August 28, remained unresolved by 9 am on Friday, according to preliminary reports.
Photos shared on social media showed a long trail of vehicles stuck in the gridlock, including numerous long-distance public service vehicles (PSVs) that ply the busy route both at night and during the morning hours.
The worst-affected section was reported near the Gilgil Weighbridge, where traffic was heavily congested due to overlapping vehicles and slow clearance efforts. Motorists have reported delays stretching from the previous evening into the next day. Despite the severity of the jam, police had not yet addressed the situation at the time of publication.
Alternative routes to consider
KeNHA, in a statement on Friday, blamed the congestion on lane indiscipline, adding that the increase in traffic could also be attributed to a high number of motorists who travelled to attend Thursday’s National Youth Service (NYS) pass-out parade in Gilgil.
“The Authority regrets to bring to the attention of the public that from around 2030 hrs yesterday, congestion developed along the Nakuru – Nairobi Highway. This was worsened by lane indiscipline, which resulted in a traffic gridlock that is currently being experienced between Naivasha and Kikopey.”
The Authority has said that it is working closely with the traffic police to help ease the situation, adding that “normal traffic flow is expected to resume gradually through the course of the morning.”
Motorists have been urged to observe lane discipline and avoid overlapping “as it will make it impossible to ease the congestion.”
In light of the conngestion, KeNHA has recommended alternative routes for motorists traveling on the busy highway.
- Nairobi – Rironi – Flyover (Magumu) – Njambini – Ol Kalou – Dundori – Lanet
- Nairobi – Rironi – Naivasha – Gilgil–Ol Kalou – Dundori – Lanet
Other routes that motorists can use include the Nairobi – Thika – Magumu – Njambini – Ol Kalou – Dundori – Lanet route and the Suswa Shortcut (Nairobi – Ngong Town – Kibiko – Suswa).
For many years, the Nairobi-Nakuru highway has been prone to gridlock, especially during the school opening and closing periods, as well as festive seasons. This persistent problem has led to growing calls from motorists and the public for the government to provide a lasting solution.
Latest on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway dualling project
In July, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir announced that groundbreaking for the dualling of the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit highway would begin by the end of August 2025.
Speaking before the Senate on Wednesday, July 16, CS Chirchir stated that the groundbreaking would mark the commencement of construction works along the approximately 175-kilometer A8 highway.
“We plan to undertake the dualling of the Rironi–Nakuru and Nakuru–Eldoret highways under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) process,” CS Chirchir stated.
“We have gotten several concession proponents, and they are currently going through the development phase. We expect to break ground before the end of August, if all goes well.”
Also Read: KeNHA Temporarily Closes Road for Two Months
The government also plans to create a bypass around Rironi, Mai-Mahiu, and Naivasha areas, dubbed the A8 South, which will be separate from the main dualing project on the A8 highway.
This announcement followed the National Treasury’s approval in early July of two Privately Initiated Proposals (PIPs) related to the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Road project. These approvals move the project into the development phase.
PIPs approved
The first proponent is a consortium of China Road and Bridge Corporation Kenya (CRBC) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), while the second is Shandong Hi Speed Road & Bridge International Engineering Co. Ltd.
The project comprises two main sections:
- A8 Section: Rironi Interchange to Mau Summit Turnoff (~174.90 km)
- A8 South Section: Rironi Interchange to Naivasha Interchange via Mai Mahiu (~56.38 km)
Also Read: Nairobi-Nakuru Highway Blocked as Residents Light Bonfires
“This project forms a critical part of both the Northern Corridor and the Trans-African Highway, serving as a vital transport artery linking East and Central African countries to the Port of Mombasa. It supports heavy commercial traffic essential for regional trade and economic development. On 2nd July 2025, the two PIPs were approved to progress to the Project Development Phase,” the report reads.
KeNHA disclosed that the proponents are undergoing evaluation in line with the PPP Act of 2021, including project development activities, assessment, stakeholder engagements, and final approvals.
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