Nairobi motorists trapped in traffic

Hundreds of motorists were on Friday evening trapped in traffic jams on major roads for hours as a traffic snarl-up hit Nairobi and its environs.

Some of the frustrated motorists called the Nation newsroom inquiring what was happening and expressing their frustration.

The most affected area was Mombasa road where some motorists got stuck for up to five hours.

Others were Ngong Road, Waiyaki Way, Jogoo Road, Outer Ring Road, Valley Road and roads in Kilimani area.

This followed a heavy downpour that has hit Nairobi in the past two days.

Some of the motorists parked their cars as civilians helped in directing traffic that had overwhelmed traffic police.

A spot check by the Nation established that most buses headed upcountry were also delayed for hours with anxious passengers waiting in the lounges.

Some commuters were seen alighting from matatus and walking home as others waited for transport at Kencom bus stop.

"There are enough people at Kencom bus stop to make a political rally," quipped Mutinda Munyao on twitter.

Motorists along Waiyaki Way could be seen either switching off their engines or turning their cars around to look for alternative routes.

Some who were headed for a night out said they were shocked to find traffic at a standstill near Yaya centre.

"I am going back home. There is no point in going out in this traffic. At this rate I will get to where I am going at midnight!" said Geoffrey Gakuya.

Others said they had decided to stay in their offices until traffic cleared but that was not until hours later.

"I usually leave work at 6pm but today I saw the traffic outside and decided to wait. I ended up leaving the office at 9pm," said Lucia Kasaon, an IT analyst in Westlands.

Some who left work at 5pm had still not reached home several hours later. "I left work at 5pm. Now its 10pm and we are still at Athi River!" said Mary Oyuke, a Public Relations Officer at Daystar University.