Thousands of motorists found themselves trapped in a massive traffic snarl-up on the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway for more than 10 hours on Saturday night, as the WRC Safari Rally in Naivasha attracted overwhelming crowds. The event, a highlight in Kenya’s sporting calendar, drew rally enthusiasts from across the country, particularly from Nairobi, eager to witness the action-packed rally stages. However, the heavy influx of vehicles led to long, unmoving lines of traffic stretching for kilometres, effectively paralysing movement along the critical route.
Videos and images circulated widely on social media, showing endless streams of vehicles stuck along the highway. Many motorists, some returning from the rally’s day events and others heading to catch the climactic stages, found themselves caught in the gridlock late into the night. Frustrated road users shared their experiences online, with some joking that the journey from Naivasha to Nairobi, a 100-kilometre distance, was progressing faster than that from Naivasha to Nakuru, despite the latter being only 78 kilometres away.
The prolonged traffic jam forced numerous drivers and passengers to spend the night on the road, unable to reach their destinations. One motorist recounted how he expected to reach Nairobi by 11 pm but ended up arriving at 3 am after spending four additional hours in traffic. For many, the festive atmosphere and excitement of the rally quickly turned into exhaustion and frustration as they endured the night in stationary vehicles.
Despite the situation, the National Police Service (NPS) maintained that traffic officers had been deployed along the highway and surrounding routes to manage the congestion and assist with navigation. The NPS had earlier issued advisories to motorists, urging them to explore alternative routes to ease the pressure on the main highway. However, the sheer volume of vehicles overwhelmed these efforts, and the snarl-up continued for hours.
As the rally reached its final stages on Sunday morning, the traffic crisis spilled over to other key access routes, including Moi South Lake Road in Naivasha. Spectators scrambled to reach Hells Gate National Park to catch the concluding races, adding to the congestion. The surge in vehicular movement created bottlenecks on several feeder roads, making access to the rally venues increasingly difficult.
In anticipation of the event, the NPS had issued a warning to bus and lorry drivers, instructing them not to park along the Naivasha Nakuru Road or cause unnecessary obstructions. The notice also highlighted the collaboration between the NPS and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) aimed at ensuring road safety and traffic compliance during the high-profile event.
Despite these measures, the challenges of managing such a large influx of people and vehicles remain significant, with many calling for better planning and infrastructure to accommodate future rallies. The WRC Safari Rally, while a major attraction and source of national pride, continues to pose logistical challenges, particularly in managing transport and safety during peak moments. As thousands look forward to next year’s edition, the lessons from this weekend’s ordeal may prompt a reassessment of how best to support both the event and the spectators who travel great distances to enjoy it.
