Transport was brought to a standstill along the Mombasa–Nairobi Highway on Wednesday, May 14, after demonstrators barricaded the road at Kiboko in Makueni County.
Motorists using the busy highway were left stranded as protests erupted, with demonstrators blocking the road and lighting tyres.
Videos seen by The Kenya Times showed groups of protesters thronging Kiboko town, disrupting movement and bringing traffic to a complete halt.
Other images and footage revealed long queues of stalled vehicles, including cargo trucks, stretching along the highway.
“Traffic along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway has been disrupted at Kiboko by residents who are protesting. Currently, there is no movement of vehicles,” said the Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association of Kenya.
The reason behind the demonstrations remained unclear by the time of publishing, and police officers had yet to arrive at the scene.
The Mombasa–Nairobi highway disruption comes after traffic along the busy highway was severely affected following a deadly accident involving a fuel tanker and a lorry on the morning of Thursday, March 20, just a few kilometres from Mtito Andei.
The head-on collision resulted in both vehicles bursting into flames, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky and bringing traffic to a standstill.
Both drivers sustained injuries in the incident.
Also Read: KeRRA Announces Traffic Disruptions as Sections of Road to Remain Closed
Mombasa – Nairobi highway traffic disruption
According to eyewitnesses, the crash occurred at around 8:00 am in the Kanga area within Kibwezi sub-county. One witness reported that the tanker was transporting edible oil from Mombasa, while the trailer was heading in the opposite direction when the two collided.
A local administrator confirmed that the injured drivers were rushed to a nearby hospital in Mtito Andei for treatment.
The crash caused a major traffic snarl-up, with vehicles stranded for several kilometres. Police officers were deployed to the scene to clear the wreckage and restore normal traffic flow.
Also Read: Traffic Disruption as Expressway Exit is Closed Temporarily
Separately, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) had earlier issued a traffic advisory regarding a temporary disruption on the same highway.
In a notice shared on Wednesday, April 16, KeNHA announced that motorists using the Mombasa-bound lanes near the Katani Road Junction would experience disruptions from Saturday, April 19, at 10:00 PM to Sunday, July 20 at 6:00 AM, due to ongoing roadworks.
“KeNHA advises motorists to follow the proposed traffic management plan below and cooperate with the police and traffic marshals on site,” the notice read.
The authority explained that the disruption will allow for installation of the fabricated footbridge beams, which are essential for improving pedestrian safety along the busy highway.
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