NAIROBI, Kenya — Traffic has been fully restored on the Nairobi Southern Bypass following an oil tanker accident that forced the temporary closure of the busy highway, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced.
In a statement issued, KeNHA confirmed that motorists can now resume normal use of the bypass after emergency teams successfully contained the incident and carried out the necessary safety and repair works.
“Motorists have now resumed normal traffic along the Southern Bypass. However, road users are advised to exercise caution, adhere to posted speed limits, and follow directions issued by traffic police as traffic flow stabilises,” the authority said.
The agency cautioned drivers to remain vigilant, noting that traffic conditions are still normalising following the disruption.
The Southern Bypass, particularly the Mombasa Road-bound section, was shut down on Saturday after a fuel tanker overturned and caught fire near the Carnivore area, causing a major interruption to traffic flow in and out of the capital.
According to emergency responders, the incident involved a collision between a lorry and a fuel tanker near Ram Residency, triggering an explosion that prompted authorities to close the road as a safety precaution.
“A road traffic incident involving a lorry and a fuel tanker, which led to an explosion, has been reported near Ram Residency along the Southern Bypass. The highway has been temporarily closed. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes,” the Kenya Red Cross said earlier in a statement.
Firefighters, contamination control teams, traffic police, and other emergency responders were deployed to the scene to extinguish the fire, secure the area, and manage traffic diversions as repairs were undertaken.
KeNHA said it worked closely with the Traffic Police and other agencies to restore the affected section of the road and ensure it was safe for public use.
The authority also thanked motorists and residents in neighbouring areas for their patience and cooperation during the closure, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the disruption.
The Nairobi Southern Bypass is a critical transport corridor linking major highways around the city and easing congestion within Nairobi. Incidents along the route often have significant knock-on effects on traffic across the capital.
KeNHA urged motorists to continue exercising caution as they use the bypass, stressing the importance of compliance with traffic rules to prevent further incidents as normal operations resume.
