KeNHA Warns Motorists Using Nairobi-Nakuru Highway Against Lane Indiscipline

Published 4 days ago• 2 minute read

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has urged motorists plying the Nairobi-Nakuru highway to maintain lane discipline to reduce traffic congestion.

In a brief statement on Saturday morning, the Authority attributed the traffic snarl-up witnessed between Kariandusi and Nakuru to overlapping by some drivers.

While urging motorists to adhere to traffic regulations, KeNHA encouraged motorists to use alternative routes, including the Gilgil-Olkalou-Dundori-Lanet route and the Flyover-Njambini-Olkalou-Dundori-Lanet.

"We are experiencing a snarl-up on the A8 between Kariandusi and Nakuru that lasted all night due to overlapping and driver indiscipline. Motorists are advised to stop overlapping, as this will assist our teams and the police to restore order," KeNHA announced.

A traffic snarl-up along the Mai Mahiu - Narok Road after heavy downpour resulted in floods which deposited debris on the highway on April28, 2024

Photo

KeNHA

"Additionally, for those intending to travel on this route, you are advised to use the following alternative routes: Gilgil-Olkalou-Dundori-Lanet and Flyover-Njambini-Olkalou-Dundori-Lanet," the Authority added.

The warning comes after hundreds of motorists and passengers were forced to spend several hours stuck along the busy highway, specifically between the Gilgil-Nakuru route.

One of the motorists, while venting his frustration, revealed that he had spent up to seven hours stuck in traffic, adding that he had been caught in the gridlock along the highway since 2 a.m.

To address the situation, the motorist called on President William Ruto’s administration to intervene and expand the highway, which is currently a single-lane road.

"The need for infrastructure expansion and enhancement. We have spent seven hours between Nakuru (Section 58) and Gilgil, courtesy of a traffic jam. I was in Nakuru by 2 a.m. en route to Nairobi," lamented the motorist.

Nonetheless, the government recently announced plans to expand the highway into a four-lane dual carriageway, with construction set to begin in June this year.

This follows President Ruto’s signing of a multi-billion-dollar agreement with China for the road’s expansion, which is expected to be completed by 2027.

The dualing project was awarded to Chinese contractors after the government, through KeNHA, cancelled a deal with a French firm that had initially been contracted to carry out the expansion.

President William Ruto at Peking University in China on April 23, 2025.

PCS

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