Hundreds of road users on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway experienced a 15-hour traffic snarl up that forced many of them to spend the night on the road.
Some had to cancel their trips following the chaos.
Others missed flights and appointments because of the massive traffic jam that stretched from Lanet to Naivasha.
The traffic jam, which started at around 6pm on Friday, cleared at around 11am Saturday.
National Police Service spokesman Michael Muchiri explained that the scenario was caused by several factors, key among them being heavy rainfall in Nakuru City and its surroundings.
The rain started at around 4pm Friday and continued until 8pm.
Muchiri said a non-injury traffic accident near Baruk area and a second non-injury accident near Soysambu area further disrupted traffic flow just as it started stabilising.
“The situation was further exacerbated by motorists failing to adhere to traffic rules, leading to overlapping and lane indiscipline," he said.
“NPS, with support from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), and Ministry of Transport officials, responded swiftly and progressively restored smooth traffic flow,” Muchiri added.
He said additional police officers have been deployed and will take stern action against those flouting traffic rules.
“We urge motorists to remain patient, maintain lane discipline, consider alternative routes to ease congestion and enhance road safety," the police spokesperson said.
Traffic police were overwhelmed by the chaos leaving the motorists to their own mishief.
KeNHA said on X that the situation was worsened by overlapping and driver indiscipline.
"Motorists are advised to stop overlapping as this will assist our teams and the police to restore order. Additionally, for those intending to travel on this route, you are advised to use the following alternative routes: 1. Gilgil - Olkalou - Dundori - Lanet 2. Flyover - Njambini - Olkalou - Dundori - Lanet," the authority said.
Following the incident, most of the drivers and passengers decried the losses they incurred due to the wasted time on the road.
Traffic Commandant Fred Ochieng said they have deployed more officers on the route to address any further chaos.
He said some drivers worsened the situation when they started to overlap.
“This indiscipline contributed to the problem. We are taking further measures to mitigate future chaos,” he said.
Locals are calling on the government to speed up the plan to upgrade the Nairobi-Nakuru highway to a dual carriageway as a way of reducing persistent traffic snarl up on the road.
This was not the first time such chaos are experienced on the road amid efforts to expand it for ease of use.
In the past, similar occurrences have been attributed partly to an increase in the number of road users and seasonal high traffic.
