Traffic chaos on highways as Kenyans travel for Christmas

There was a major traffic snarl-up on major highways as Kenyans headed upcountry and the coast for Christmas holidays.

Motorists were stuck for hours on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway with the jam being blamed on overlapping.

The jam was reported on Christmas Eve and Thursday morning at Limuru, Kimende, Naivasha and Gilgil sections of the road.

A traffic police officer, who did not want to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the press, said a crash near Kimende caused the snarl-up Wednesday.

The officer said motorists ended up blocking the road as they tried to overtake the vehicles involved in the crash.

OVERLAPPING

The officer further told Daily Nation the increased number of vehicles on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway has caused the snarl-up that affected travellers on Christmas day.

“Overlapping is the main cause of the jam on this highway today.  It is also foggy near Kimende,” the officer said.

Travellers that talked to the Nation said that they spent between four to seven hours between the Naivasha-Kimende stretch.

Mr Abel Ngugi, a traveller, said it took him four hours to drive from Naivasha to Kimende.

Other travellers took to social media to air their frustrations of being stuck on the highway.

Mr Dave Warutere posted on Twitter that it took him "seven hours to travel from Nyahururu to Kijabe."

There was also heavy traffic along the Mombasa highway on Christmas day after a truck overturned near Simba Cement factory.

The crash caused a snarl-up on both lanes.