Traffic Disruption On Nairobi Southern Bypass After Oil Tanker Overturns

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced the temporary closure of a key section of the Nairobi Southern Bypass (Kikuyu-bound) following a traffic incident involving an overturned oil tanker.

In a statement released on Saturday, KeNHA confirmed that the accident occurred between the Virtual Weighbridge and the Ngong Interchange, completely blocking traffic on the busy corridor.

The tanker reportedly spilled oil onto the road, creating a hazardous situation and necessitating immediate emergency response.

“The Kenya National Highways Authority regrets to notify the public of the temporary closure of the Nairobi Southern Bypass (Kikuyu Bound) between the Virtual Weighbridge and Ngong Interchange.

This is due to an oil tanker that has overturned on the road, blocking traffic passage,” the authority said.

Emergency response teams, including traffic police, fire brigades, and road rescue units, are on-site coordinating clean-up operations and working to restore normal traffic flow as quickly and safely as possible.

Videos shared by KeNHA show heavy congestion in the affected area, with long queues of vehicles and motorists standing outside their cars as they await clearance. Rescue and traffic personnel can be seen directing traffic and assessing the situation.

Motorists have been advised to avoid the route and use alternative roads such as Waiyaki Way and Uhuru Highway to reach their destinations.

KeNHA has called on all road users to remain patient and follow instructions from traffic officers and marshals managing the situation.

“We urge motorists to cooperate with the police and marshals on-site to ensure safety and help speed up the recovery efforts,” the agency added.

While no casualties have been reported so far, authorities are closely monitoring the situation due to the risk posed by the spilled oil, which may affect both road safety and the environment.

Further updates will be provided as the clean-up progresses and normal traffic is restored.