KeNHA Responds After Khalwale Complains Of Being Stranded Along Nairobi-Nakuru Highway

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has issued a traffic advisory after several motorists and travellers, including Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, complained of being stuck in a traffic gridlock along the Nairobi - Nakuru Highway at Soko Mjinga for more than three hours.

Motorists revealed that the gridlock had begun around 7.00 am on Friday, December 22 and was attributed to cars overlapping as travellers headed upcountry for the festive season.

Khalwale was among the notable leaders who made his frustrations known as the traffic snarl-up along the major highway entered its second successive day.

Motorists stuck in a gridlock at Soko Mjinga along the Nairobi - Nakuru Highway on December 22, 2023. /BONI KHALWALE

"Dead stuck in a kilometres-long traffic jam as we snake our way to Kakamega. It's consoling that a dual carriageway of the Nairobi to Mau Summit junction is in our development blueprint. We will transform Kenya," he stated on social media while sharing a photo of the traffic jam.

KeNHA in response attributed the traffic jam to heightened travelling ahead of the festive season, as it revealed that traffic police were deployed to coordinate the situation.

"The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) alerts motorists plying or planning to use the Nairobi - Nakuru Highway of a traffic snarl-up from Rironi occasioned by increased travel for festivities. Traffic police are actively managing the situation," KeNHA said in a statement in part.

The highway authority thus advised motorists to maintain lane discipline and refrain from overlapping to prevent additional congestion.

They were also advised to use alternative routes as well, adding that "Further updates will be provided as we monitor the situation. KeNHA wishes you all safe travels."

Motorists expressed their frustration over the incident, arguing that it has been a common occurrence during the festivities.

As a result, Kenyans called on the government to move with speed and implement the dualling of the major highway as a lasting solution to the menace.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had on Wednesday, December 20 announced that the government would reconsider the dualling of major highways as a means of dealing with traffic jams during high travel seasons such as Easter and Christmas.

"Thanks to the success of the Expressway, we are now receiving increasing demand for similar projects.  We are therefore considering the dualling of the Rironi-Mau Summit Road expected to begin in the next year.

"A long-term plan to develop roads across the country is underway, some of these roads are; the Nairobi-Mombasa highway and Athi River-Namanga highways, Kisumu-Isibania and Kiambu Road," Murkomen stated.

Meanwhile, Viral Tea had explained one of the alternative routes for motorists travelling to Western Kenya and Nakuru from Nairobi to consider, via Google Maps, though this is the longest alternative route.

Read also: Super-Long Alternative Route For Motorists Amidst Nightmare Mai Mahiu Traffic