Motorists and passengers travelling along the bustling Mau Summit Eldoret Highway were thrown into a state of confusion and frustration earlier today, following a dramatic traffic snarl-up reportedly triggered by an accident involving a trailer.
According to eyewitnesses who spoke to Citizen Digital and The Standard, the incident occurred in the early morning hours when a heavily loaded trailer lost control and veered off the road before jackknifing near the notorious Salgaa stretch, a section already known for its treacherous curves and high accident rate. The trailer, said to have been ferrying goods towards Eldoret, ended up blocking both lanes of the highway, effectively grinding all movement to a halt.
“We just heard a loud screeching sound followed by a thunderous bang,” recounted one shaken passenger who was en route to Nakuru. “Within minutes, everything was at a standstill. People were stepping out of their cars, trying to understand what had just happened.”
The ensuing gridlock stretched for several kilometres, with stranded travellers taking to social media to air their frustrations. Photos and videos shared on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook painted a grim picture: long lines of motionless vehicles, drivers pacing impatiently beside their cars, and a general sense of despair in the chilly Rift Valley morning air.
Efforts by traffic police and Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) officials to clear the scene were underway by mid-morning, though progress was reportedly slow due to the sheer size of the trailer and the cargo it was hauling.
This latest incident has once again reignited public concerns about road safety, particularly involving long-distance haulers on Kenyan highways. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is yet to issue an official statement, though sources within the agency hinted that a full investigation would be launched into the incident.
As the situation gradually returns to normal, one thing is clear: the Mau Summit–Eldoret Highway remains a vital but volatile artery in the country’s transport network, where one slip of the wheel can bring everything to a standstill.
