Traffic along Thika Superhighway was brought to a standstill on Tuesday after the body of an unidentified person was discovered floating in Ruiru River near Gwa Kairo Stage.
The discovery attracted large crowds to the scene, with boda boda riders expressing anger and frustration by blocking both sides of the busy highway.
The protest quickly caused major disruption, leaving motorists and passengers stranded for several hours as vehicles piled up along the road.
Witnesses said the body was spotted in the river before emergency responders were alerted. Rescue teams later arrived and began efforts to retrieve the remains from the water.
The operation proved difficult, with rescuers using ropes to pull the body from the river as onlookers gathered nearby.
The identity of the deceased had not been established by the time of publication.
Police were also yet to determine the cause of death or explain how the body ended up in the river.
Investigations are expected to begin once the body is moved for further examination.
The blockage created long traffic jams on one of the country’s busiest highways. Commuters travelling to Nairobi’s Central Business District faced significant delays, while congestion spread to nearby roads and intersections.
Areas including Ruiru, Juja and Githurai experienced heavy traffic as drivers searched for alternative routes.
The disruption also affected key connecting roads, including Outer Ring Road and the Eastern Bypass, making movement difficult for thousands of road users during the day.
Many commuters were forced to spend hours on the road as authorities worked to restore normal traffic flow.
By Tuesday afternoon, authorities had not released an official statement regarding either the discovery of the body or the protests that followed.
Residents and motorists continued to seek answers as the rescue operation and investigations progressed.The incident has also brought back memories of a similar case reported in 2020 when the body of an unidentified man was recovered from the same river.
At the time, it was believed that the victim had drowned and was later carried away by floodwaters.It is also the second major disruption reported on Thika Superhighway this month.
Earlier in July, motorists experienced chaos after a section of the highway near Pangani was blocked, causing widespread delays and concern among road users.
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