[PHOTOS] Heavy traffic witnessed along Thika road during Christmas

Heavy traffic witnessed along Thika road during Christmas 2025/JAMES GICHIGI

Heavy traffic is being experienced along Thika Road highway on Christmas Day, as hundreds of motorists continue to leave Nairobi for various upcountry destinations for the festive season.

The congestion started in the afternoon at around 1 pm along the Juja section, stretching through Witeithie and toward Thika town.

Vehicles are moving slowly in long, dense queues, with traffic continuing to build as the afternoon progresses.

Most of the congestion is on the side of the highway heading away from Nairobi, while the opposite carriageway serving motorists travelling into the city remains relatively clear.

Despite Thika Road having three lanes on most sections, the volume of vehicles is straining the highway’s capacity.

Drivers are overlapping lanes in an attempt to move faster, while in several sections, some motorists are using the road shoulder, effectively creating an additional lane.

Heavy traffic witnessed along Thika road during Christmas 2025/JAMES GICHIGI

Vehicles manoeuvre to escape traffic along Thika Road/JAMES GICHIGI

Traffic flow is further disrupted in sections where traffic police officers are not visible to direct or regulate movement.

As a result, motorists are navigating the congestion without coordinated traffic control, leading to irregular merging and frequent bottlenecks.

At some points, vehicles are slowing to a near standstill as drivers attempt to rejoin the main lanes.

Several vehicles are also broken down along the highway, adding to delays.

Some cars are parked on the roadside with hazard lights on, while others are stalled within traffic lanes, forcing approaching motorists to slow down or change lanes abruptly.

Feeder roads connecting to Thika Road are also affected.

Roads linking surrounding estates and towns to the highway are congested as vehicles join the outbound traffic, extending delays beyond the main carriageway.

The traffic build-up means that even short-distance motorists are experiencing prolonged travel times.

Meanwhile, hawkers are selling snacks, water and fruits to motorists caught in the traffic.

Christmas Day travel typically results in increased movement on major highways as people leave urban centres to spend the holiday with family in rural areas.

Thika Road is among the routes experiencing heightened traffic volumes during this period.

Heavy traffic witnessed along Thika Road during Christmas 2025/JAMES GICHIGI

Heavy traffic witnessed along Thika road during Christmas 2025/JAMES GICHIGI