The Southern Bypass, a key transport corridor connecting Nairobi to Kiambu County and linking the Northern Corridor, was reopened on Friday morning after a disruption at Thogoto and Gitaru sections.

The route had been temporarily impassable due to obstacles blocking traffic in both directions, leading to major delays for commuters and cargo transporters.

The Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) confirmed the reopening in a post on X, stating: “Southern Bypass now open by the public. @loddca @KTA_Kenya @TAK_Kenya @SDoT_Kenya Let us not allow any goon to block our Northern Corridor.

The public has cleared and opened the Kikuyu Roads, and Traffic is now flowing.” Earlier, the association had issued a “Red alert” warning that the highway had been blocked, with traffic brought to a standstill.

Images shared online showed burning tyres, debris, and vehicles obstructing sections of the road near Thogoto and Gitaru, causing long tailbacks and stranding motorists for several hours.

The blockage affected private vehicles, public service vehicles, and heavy trucks transporting goods along the Nairobi–Western Kenya route.

Traffic disruption and public response

The incident caused widespread congestion along the Southern Bypass and surrounding feeder roads, with motorists reporting delays stretching for several kilometres.

Some commuters abandoned their vehicles while others remained stranded as movement came to a halt in both directions.

The Motorists Association later reported that members of the public assisted in clearing the debris and restoring traffic flow.

The group urged authorities and transport stakeholders to strengthen measures to prevent future disruptions on major highways, particularly those linked to regional trade routes.

Police officers were deployed to the affected areas to disperse groups that had gathered along the highway, after which traffic gradually resumed normal movement. No official statement had been released regarding arrests or investigations at the time of reporting.

Political tensions linked to Kikuyu rally

The disruption occurred on the same day a political rally was scheduled in Kikuyu Constituency by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua under the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).

The rally had drawn heightened attention following earlier exchanges between political leaders over security and mobilisation concerns in the area.

In the days leading up to the event, National Assembly Majority Leader and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah wrote to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, citing intelligence reports of planned mobilisation across several counties and referencing past incidents of unrest in the constituency.

He called for enhanced security measures to protect residents and infrastructure.

Gachagua’s camp also wrote to the Inspector General, raising concerns over potential disruption of the rally and requesting security protection for the event. The competing claims contributed to heightened tensions in the area ahead of the gathering.