Traffic jams, deaths take merry out of Christmas in South Rift

The festive mood in South Rift region, was marred by the tragic deaths of three people in Ndege Ndimu, Bahati Sub-County, after consuming illicit alcohol.

Traffic jams along the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway caused significant delays from Thursday, leaving passengers and motorists stranded for hours.

John Marira said his journey from Nairobi to Nakuru, which typically takes three hours, took him over ten hours on Saturday.

“I left Nairobi at 7am with my sisters. The traffic congestion began from View Point to Naivasha, and we were stuck for more than two hours. There was also heavy traffic in Gilgil and Barnabas,” he said.

Miriam Wambui, who was driving from Nairobi to Nakuru, expressed frustration at the extended delays.

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“We were stuck in traffic for so long that I even took a nap for over 30 minutes. When I woke up, the cars had not moved. We got out and even played games as we waited,” she said.

Despite the fatigue and stress caused by the traffic, Nakuru ushered in the festive season on Thursday last week with a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Sarova Woodlands Hotel.

The event, which was attended by both local and international tourists, was officiated by John Koech, the Chief Officer for Tourism and Culture.

“We have launched an initiative called ‘Tembea Kenya’ to encourage both local and international tourists to visit Nakuru’s tourism sites. We have also enhanced security and will ensure that tourists are well-fed, entertained, and comfortable,” Koech said.

Duncan Mwangi, Cluster General Manager of Sarova Woodlands and Lion Hill, noted that despite the economic challenges, this was still a season to celebrate.

He highlighted that, despite the tough economy, bookings and visitor numbers had increased this year, and the South Rift region offered excellent alternatives for tourism.

Mwangi also encouraged Kenyans to give back to society, particularly to those in need and to the elderly.

On Friday evening, members of the Nakuru Journalists Association (NJA) marked the start of the Christmas holidays with their first-ever Gala since the association’s inception last year.

The event was attended by Geothermal Development Company CEO Paul Ngugi, who urged journalists to remain steadfast in their duty to inform the public, hold the government to account, and act as society’s watchdog.

“The media faces numerous challenges, threats, and intimidation, not just from external sources but also from within media houses. It is time for you to stand up and speak the truth,” Ngugi stated.

In Kericho, Bureti Sub-County Police Commander Benedict Chirchir reassured residents that security would be a top priority during the festive season.

Chirchir said a multi-agency approach to law enforcement had been adopted to safeguard the community over Christmas.

“I urge everyone in the sub-county to work closely with us to help eliminate insecurity in the area,” he said.

He also appealed to residents to share any information that could assist the police in apprehending criminals.

This followed the discovery of a woman’s body by the roadside near Tulwet Trading Centre on Friday.

Chirchir expressed concern over a rise in criminal activities as Christmas approached.