Motorists and passengers were stuck for more than 15 hours along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway after heavy traffic brought movement to a near standstill on the busy route.The congestion was reported from around 9 pm on Friday, August 28, with motorists and passengers still stranded along the Sachangwan-Salgaa stretch by Saturday, August 29.Most of the motorists who found themselves stuck in the gridlock reported traffic moving at a very slow pace, with long queues reported as motorists approached Salgaa from Sachangwan.“I have been stuck in traffic along the Sachangwan-Salgaa stretch since 9 pm with traffic barely moving,” said one of the motorists.The congestion affected travellers using the Nairobi-Nakuru, Nakuru-Eldoret and the Kisumu-Busia routes, with motorists forced to spend several hours on the road.The exact cause of the traffic jam was not immediately established, although ongoing construction works, lane indiscipline and overlapping were reported to have worsened the situation.Attempts by the traffic police to ease the congestion proved futile, as the gridlock escalated, blocking both lanes of the single carriageway.The latest incident comes as construction of the six-lane Rironi-Mau Summit Highway continues, with physical works currently underway on sections of the major project.The Ksh184 billion project is being implemented in phases, with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), in partnership with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), undertaking the first phase.The first phase covers the Rironi-Naivasha-Gilgil section and the route from Rironi through Mai Mahiu to Naivasha, with the works being implemented for Ksh96.1 billion.A second Chinese Company, Shandong Hi-Speed Road and Bridge International, is expected to undertake the second phase from Naivasha towards Mau Summit interchange.The first phase is expected to be completed by June 2027, with the expanded highway expected to reduce travel time, ease persistent traffic congestion and improve connectivity towards Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
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