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Normal traffic flow resumes on Thika Super Highway hours after protest
14th July, 2026 08:05 PM
Normal traffic flow has resumed along the Thika Super Highway after hours of disruption caused by protests on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
By evening, motorists had expected significant delays and considered using alternative routes because of the traffic build-up.
The disruption affected both private and public transport for several hours. Motorists travelling along the busy highway experienced long queues as movement slowed down in different sections of the road before traffic gradually returned to normal.
Traffic had come to a standstill after protesters blocked sections of the highway. The demonstrations began following the discovery of a man’s body floating in the Ruiru River near Gwa Kairo Stage, drawing large crowds to the area.
A video seen by K24 Digital showed residents and boda boda riders gathering near the scene. Emergency responders were also present as they worked to retrieve the body from the river while protesters blocked one side of the highway with barricades.
Protests caused major traffic delays
The protest left many commuters stranded for hours as the rescue operation continued. Vehicles remained stuck on the highway, with motorists unable to move as traffic backed up across several sections of the road.
The congestion stretched from the Kimbo underpass to the Ruiru Bypass for motorists travelling from Nairobi towards Ruiru and Thika. Drivers heading into the Nairobi Central Business District also experienced delays, especially around Pangani and Ngara, where traffic built up because of the disruption.
Earlier, motorists travelling from Nairobi had been advised to use the service lane before turning towards Ruiru Ndani near Plainsview Hospital. They were then directed to continue to the roundabout near Quickmart before reconnecting with Thika Road to avoid the affected section.
The alternative route allowed drivers to bypass the traffic jam before joining the Thika Superhighway service lane near the Kenya Power offices in Ruiru. The diversion helped some motorists continue with their journeys while the protest was ongoing.
The identity of the man whose body was recovered from the river had not been established by the time of publication, as authorities had also not confirmed the circumstances surrounding his death.
