The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced new alternate routes amid massive congestion on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.

In a statement on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, KeNHA warned of heavy traffic along the Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Road and the Rironi-Mai Mahiu-Naivasha Road.

“KeNHA has noted a surge in traffic volumes along the Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit (A8) Road and the Rironi-Mai Mahiu-Naivasha (A8 South) Road,” the Authority wrote on X.

The road’s authority urged motorists to strictly observe lane discipline and follow traffic rules to help ease congestion and reduce the risk of accidents.

“Motorists travelling along these corridors are advised to exercise caution and strictly observe lane discipline to ensure smooth traffic flow and to prevent congestion and accidents,” KeNHA stated.

The routes

The Authority has released a list of alternative routes for motorists navigating the congested Nairobi-Nakuru corridor.

Options include: the Thika-Magumu-Njabini-Olkalou-Dundori-Lanet route, the Flyover-Njabini-Olkalou-Dundori-Lanet route, the Naivasha-Njabini-Olkalou-Dundori-Lanet route, and the Gilgil-Olkalou-Dundori-Lanet route.

Drivers can also consider the Ngong-Suswa-Narok-Mau Narok-Nakuru road, the Nakuru-Kampi ya Moto-Eldama Ravine-Makutano road, or the Nakuru-Njoro-Mau Summit route.

 KeNHA emphasised that it is coordinating closely with the National Police Service to manage traffic and ensure smoother travel along all affected roads.

“KeNHA, in collaboration with the National Police Service, continues to manage traffic along these routes. However, cooperation and responsible conduct of all road users remain critical to ensuring safe and timely journeys,” the Authority said.

The update comes amidst a worsening traffic along the busy highway, which has resulted in unnecessary delays even as the festive season hits its peak.

The traffic has been attributed to several factors, including minor accidents, road maintenance works, lane discipline by some motorists and an increase in the volume of vehicles using the route.

For the last five days, the gridlock has caused a shutdown of both lanes of the single-carriage highway, with passengers and drivers forced to spend the night on the highway.

KeNHA had also attributed the massive traffic snarl-up witnessed along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway to a lack of courtesy and lane discipline among motorists.

Commuters using the busy route have taken to social media to express frustration, reporting that journeys which typically take about two and a half hours stretched to between five and seven hours.