Nairobi, Kangemi Residents Raise Alarm Over Huge Crack on Waiyaki Way Slip Road

Kangemi residents have raised concerns after a big and deep crack appeared on the inbound slip road along Waiyaki Way.

A video seen online shows the crack stretching across the middle of the road for several metres. The road surface looks badly damaged, raising fears that the structure may not be safe.

Concrete barriers placed on the side of the road have also moved from their original position. There is now a visible gap between some of them, and parts of the blocks are breaking and wearing out.

The movement of these barriers is a serious warning sign. It shows that the ground under the road could be shifting, meaning the damage seen on top may be only part of a bigger problem underneath.

Despite the danger, matatus, boda bodas, and pedestrians are still using the road daily. Many people depend on this route to travel between Kangemi, Westlands, Uthiru, Kabete, and nearby areas, as there is no clear alternative route.

The Kangemi interchange is located along the busy Nairobi-Nakuru highway, also known as Waiyaki Way. It connects several local roads such as Loresho Road, Muthanga Road, and Hinga Road, making it one of the most important junctions in the area.

Slip roads like this one help drivers avoid heavy traffic, especially during morning and evening rush hours. This makes the damaged section even more risky since it is used by many people every day.

Many Kenyans online have reacted to the situation, with some blaming poor road construction and weak supervision by authorities.

One person said those approving such projects should be held responsible together with contractors, claiming some new roads already have serious damage.

Another user said the problem could be due to poor tarmacking work, adding that the contractor may have failed to consider road vibrations.

Others also claimed that some recently built roads in areas like Kitengela and Konza have already developed potholes, raising more concerns about the quality of road construction in the country.

By the time of publishing this story, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) had not given any official response.