Hundreds of travelers were left stranded on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway on Friday after a massive traffic jam near the Gilgil weighbridge stretched late into the night and continued into Saturday morning.
Drivers and passengers reported spending hours stuck in long queues of cars, mini-buses, and heavy trucks as movement between Gilgil and the Mbaruk area came to a near standstill.
Gilgil Base Commander Hussein said the congestion began at around 2pm on Friday. He pointed to the high number of vehicles using the highway and reckless driving habits, including overlapping, as the main triggers for the snarl-up.
The jam caused severe disruption for commuters and freight services alike. Bus company Ena Coach issued a statement on Saturday morning, noting that the situation was affecting both passenger travel and parcel deliveries.
“This situation is affecting departures from Nairobi to Upcountry, Upcountry to Nairobi, as well as arrivals from and at Mombasa,” the statement read.
“Consequently, parcel deliveries may also experience delays. We truly regret the inconvenience caused and kindly ask for your patience and understanding as the relevant authorities work to restore normal traffic flow.”
Motorists at the scene described long hours of waiting in traffic, with some forced to spend the night in their vehicles. The congestion highlights the challenges on one of Kenya’s busiest highways, particularly during periods of high traffic flow, and underscores the need for disciplined driving to prevent similar incidents.
Authorities have since been working to clear the gridlock and restore normal traffic, but the situation served as a reminder of the strain on the road network when large volumes of vehicles converge, especially around weighbridge points.
