Address traffic crisis on Thika Road, urge motorists

By Moses Mwaniki

Motorists who use Thika superhighway have complained of frequent traffic snarl-ups on the road.
Matatu drivers, who spoke to Crown Weekly said they were losing a lot of money because of reduced number of trips.
Besides, most commuters using the highway have to start their journey by 5am to avoid being late for work.
Those coming from as far as Thika are the most affected and have to start their journey as early as 4am to make it to town centre by 7am, a journey that should normally take less than 30 minutes.
“I have to be at the bus stop by latest 5pm if I have to open my shop in time. If the day care for my daughter is not open in time, then I get late. I feel overstretched," says Farida Amina, a beautician along Moi Avenue.
Mr James Muriuki, a driver with Chania Travelers Sacco, says: "When former President Mwai Kibaki opened the superhighway, we thought that it would save us the traffic jam which is a chronic problem.”
Some attribute the traffic to the influx of private cars and 14-seater matatus in the city. Mr. Isaac Omollo, a taxi driver, says the traffic problem could be resolved by regulating the number of cars getting into town.
“Take a case where 20 private vehicles get into town with only a driver in each of the cars. This is unnecessary considering there is a perfect public transport in place," he says.
He continues: “This problem is mainly during the rush hours of the morning and evening, so what does that indicate? People with personal cars coming to and from work contribute a lot to the traffic jam.”
Mr Kamau Njoroge, who opertaes a tuk tuk urged the government to relocate some sectors away from the city centre to ease congestion.
"I don’t think Gikomba, Muthurwa, and Jua kali markets are in the right locations," he said.
Thika superhighway, which consists of four lanes between Thika and Nairobi and a service lane on each side, was completed in 2012 with the aim of ending the traffic crisis between the two towns.