Motorists stuck in traffic snarl-up along Mombasa highway in Syokimau area, Machakos County on April 29, 2026.

Normalcy has returned on Mombasa Road hours after motorists got stuck due to a traffic snarl.

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Normal traffic flow along the busy highway resumed after close to 12 hours after an oil tanker that had overturned along the highway at Cabanas area, blocking the road, was successfully removed.
Hundreds of travellers were on Tuesday stuck in a heavy traffic snarl-up on the Nairobi–Mombasa lane, with traffic stretching from Syokimau area to City Cabanas.
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Some travellers were forced to alight from public service vehicles and take boda bodas to Nairobi central business district.
Several motorists made U-turns at JKIA to access the expressway via the Mlolongo entrance.
The situation resulted in higher fare charges along the highway.
The traffic was caused by a fuel tanker that barricaded the highway after it was washed by flash floods at Cabanas area, a few kilometres from the airport on Tuesday evening.
Two cranes, guarded by police officers, pulled the trailer from the scene where it had overturned.

A fire engine that had responded when the trailer overturned was also on standby as recovery operations continued.

Police blocked the road at the JKIA underpass area to ensure effective operations at the scene.

Most drivers switched off vehicle engines with affected passengers who included parents taking their children back to school for second term.

However, some of the children were returning to school unaccompanied.

“I'm worried about the situation since my child should get to school by 5 pm today. We have been stuck on the road for the last four hours now,” Jane Mwende told the Star.

Mwende, accompanied by her Grade 10 daughter, was headed to a school in Nakuru county when the Star caught up with them in the traffic.

The accident also affected travellers plying Mombasa Road from Nairobi CBD.

A spot check by the Star in most stages in Nairobi established that public service vehicles were charging double the normal fares.

Transport from Nairobi to Athi River, which usually costs Sh100, rose to Sh200.

Also affected were passengers travelling from Nairobi to Kitengela, Mlolongo, Machakos, Kajiado, Emali and Wote towns.

Several motorists also resorted to using the Nairobi Expressway.