A massive gridlock has brought traffic flow to a near standstill along the busy Mombasa–Nairobi Highway. Thousands of motorists travelling to and from Mombasa have been stuck in traffic for over 24 hours between Mariakani and Mazeras.
Videos and images seen by The Kenya Times show long rows of trucks, buses, and other vehicles trapped in the snarl-up, especially those heading out of Mombasa.
Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), fuel tankers, and passenger buses are lined up bumper to bumper along the highway with no movement.
Reports indicate that some drivers have been stuck since Friday, July 4, evening forcing them to spend the night in their vehicles.
Traffic Snarl-Up Leaves Motorists Stuck on Mombasa–Nairobi Highway
The situation has caused significant delays in the transportation of goods and severely disrupted travel for hundreds of travelers.
“From last night until now, the Mazeras–Mariakani section on the Mombasa–Nairobi Highway is still jammed. Since 6:00 a.m., we’ve been stuck,” stated Facebook user Shadrack Mutunga.
“This road needs a super mega highway from Nairobi to Mombasa. Simple. With an expressway inside,” added Shaka Brurus.
Motorists have been advised to use alternative routes, including the Mazeras–Kaloleni–Mariakani, Mombasa–Mavueni–Mariakani, and Mombasa–Miritini–Rabai–Kaloleni–Mariakani roads.
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The exact cause of the snarl-up remains unclear, and authorities have yet to issue an official update. However, the presence of the Mariakani Weighbridge has been identified as one of the causes of slow movement.
The Mariakani Weighbridge is located along the Mombasa–Nairobi Highway near Mariakani town, approximately 36 kilometers northwest of Mombasa.
It is a critical checkpoint used to regulate truckloads from the Port of Mombasa and enforce compliance with axle load limits before trucks proceed to Nairobi and transit destinations such as Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Construction of 4-Lane Kwa Jomvu-Mariakani Highway
This comes after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) announced in April this year that construction of the 30-kilometre Kwa Jomvu–Mariakani highway project that began in July 2023 would be completed by July 2026.
The rehabilitation of the road, which forms part of the Mombasa–Nairobi Highway, starts at the Kwa Jomvu interchange and extends through Miritini, Mazeras, and Mariakani, terminating just past the Mariakani Weighbridge.
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According to KeNHA, the scope of work includes upgrading the existing road from a two-way single carriageway to a four-lane dual carriageway, as well as the construction of climbing lanes.
The ongoing works will also include the construction of service roads at various locations, the improvement of intersections, the addition of non-motorised traffic facilities, bus stops, and enhanced urban drainage systems.
In its latest update, the Authority revealed that the road project—scheduled for completion by July 2026—is currently 24.85 per cent complete, with an 18.5-kilometre section still under construction.
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