What was supposed to be a smooth Saturday journey turned into a nightmare for hundreds of travellers on the Nakuru–Eldoret highway, after a grisly accident near the infamous Salgaa area brought traffic to a complete standstill for hours.
As early as morning, vehicles began piling up around the Total area, engines idling under the blazing sun. Frustration and exhaustion painted the faces of passengers who found themselves trapped in an endless line of cars, buses, and trucks , some with engines off, others honking in despair.
Eyewitnesses described the scene at Salgaa as chaotic. “It was terrible, people screaming, drivers trying to turn back, but there was nowhere to go,” said one motorist who had been on the road since dawn. “We are just stuck here, no movement at all.”
The accident, believed to involve several vehicles, turned one of Kenya’s busiest highways into a parking lot. Children cried inside buses, food vendors tried to make quick sales, and boda boda riders risked their lives weaving between stranded vehicles trying to find a way out.
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Police officers and emergency responders rushed to the scene, battling to control traffic and rescue the injured. It took hours before the wreckage was cleared, but by then, the damage had already been done, lost time, missed appointments, and deep frustration among travellers.
The Salgaa stretch, long branded a “death trap,” once again lived up to its dark reputation. Many Kenyans have lost their lives along this highway, and today’s gridlock was a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk on this vital transport corridor.
As the sun began to set, vehicles slowly began to move again, inch by inch, through the wreckage of what had been a bustling road now turned into a scene of despair.
For those caught in the jam, it wasn’t just a delay, it was a test of patience, endurance, and a painful reminder of how fragile every journey can be.
