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Frustration and fatigue filled the Nakuru–Eldoret Highway as thousands of travelers found themselves stuck in traffic for more than twenty hours.
The long line of vehicles stretched from Sobea, through Mau Summit, all the way to Timboroa. By late evening, the jam had slightly eased, but the chaos and delay it caused left many people angry, stranded, and helpless.
For a road that connects major towns and carries goods and passengers across the country, the situation brought everything to a standstill.
According to traffic officers, the problem started when a single vehicle broke down on the road.
What should have been a minor incident turned into a massive traffic nightmare, as drivers began overlapping and blocking the opposite lanes.
With no space for movement and patience running thin, the highway turned into a parking lot.
From Sobea to Ngata, travelers were seen sitting by the roadside, some walking long distances just to find food or make calls in areas with better network coverage.For many people, the experience was more than just an inconvenience it was deeply personal.
“We were going for a funeral, we still have the water for the deceased here… we don’t even know when we will bury the body,” said Irene Achieng, one of the travelers caught in the jam.
Her voice carried a mix of sadness and exhaustion after spending hours under the scorching sun. For others, the delay meant canceled plans and lost opportunities.
“I was traveling to western to play football and return tomorrow, now even those plans have been disrupted,” lamented Martin Mbusi, another frustrated passenger.Some motorists tried to use alternative routes through Molo Town and smaller connecting roads, hoping to escape the congestion.
However, their efforts proved futile as those routes too became clogged.
“We passed through small routes but still ended up on this same road… we don’t know what is happening. I was going to Kampala and was to return the next day,” said Naomi Ngigi, another traveler stranded for hours.
Drivers who rely on the highway for daily business suffered significant losses. “My boss keeps calling asking where I am… I tell him I’m stuck in traffic and he can’t believe it,” said Humphrey Luvisia, a truck driver delivering goods. “Today I’ve lost money because I’ve been stuck in this traffic all day,” added Denis Onyango, a matatu driver frustrated by the wasted time and lost income.
As darkness fell, many drivers left their engines running to keep lights on, while others slept inside their vehicles. By nightfall, security officers were deployed to manage the situation and direct movement.
They later confirmed that the massive gridlock was caused by one vehicle that broke down and blocked part of the highway.
The incident reignited calls to expand the busy Nairobi–Nakuru–Eldoret Highway, a route that carries heavy commercial traffic daily. “This problem happened because of overlapping… people are not patient and keep overlapping,” said Patroba Alukwe, a truck driver stuck for nearly twelve hours.
Though the jam has now eased, the frustration it caused has once again reminded authorities and road users of the urgent need for discipline and better infrastructure. For many travelers, the twenty-hour ordeal will not be easily forgotten.
