This archive report was first published on 26 June 2021.
On Saturday, June 26, 2021, hundreds of motorists spent many hours in traffic on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway due to the ongoing 2021 World Rally Championship. The event caused a massive traffic jam at the Kinangop junction along the Nairobi-Naivasha Road, with motorists seeking alternative routes to Nakuru.
According to reports, the closure of sections of the highway was necessary to allow competing safari rally drivers to use the section between Naivasha and Sosyambu. However, this move left many motorists frustrated, with some expressing concerns that the event was prioritized over their needs.
Traders along the highway took advantage of the traffic snarl-up to sell meals and other items to the stranded motorists. However, for many, the situation was far from ideal, with some motorists expressing fear that they might be caught up by the 7 pm curfew imposed in several counties in Western Kenya due to a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Naivasha police boss Samuel Waweru defended the move, stating that it had been gazetted earlier to give motorists time to plan and reroute. However, for many, the inconvenience caused by the rally was a significant concern.
