Nairobi was on the brink of paralysis on Saturday after thousands of football fans heading to Kasarani caused a massive traffic gridlock along key city roads.
The Thika Superhighway, Eastern Bypass at Kamakis, and several connecting routes were brought to a standstill as Kenyans streamed to the Moi International Sports Complex for Harambee Stars’ first-ever African Nations Championship (CHAN) quarter-final against Madagascar.
By midday, traffic on Thika Road had completely stalled after police closed off roads leading to the stadium earlier than expected. Movement in and out of Nairobi’s Central Business District was also disrupted, with roads shut in both directions.
Fans eager to witness the historic match began flocking to the stadium even before the official 12 pm gate opening, worsening the already heavy congestion.
Frustrated commuters voiced their concerns over the government’s decision to close roads hours before the 3 pm kickoff.
“The roads were closed too early,” lamented one commuter. “The alternative route was the bypass, and now everyone is stuck in a gridlock.”
Another added: “Closing roads later in the day, around 1 pm, would have allowed people to reach work on time without this chaos.”
Despite the inconvenience, excitement around Harambee Stars’ rare continental milestone overshadowed the frustrations on the road.
