NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 25 — Commuters travelling through Nairobi have been advised to prepare for possible delays as striking nurses and midwives hold a procession towards the Council of Governors headquarters.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives said participants would assemble at Green Park from 10 a.m. before proceeding to Delta Plaza on Chiromo Road, where the Council of Governors is based.
Movement around Green Park, Uhuru Highway, Waiyaki Way and roads approaching Chiromo Road could be affected as the procession passes through the city.
The union’s route notice also referenced the A2 corridor associated with Thika Road. However, the notice did not clearly establish that demonstrators would use or block the entire Thika Superhighway.
Motorists should therefore avoid interpreting the announcement as confirmation of a complete road closure unless the police or another responsible authority issues a formal traffic notice.
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Public transport services may experience delays
Uhuru Highway and Waiyaki Way carry a large volume of matatus, buses and private vehicles travelling between Nairobi CBD, Westlands and neighbourhoods west of the city.
Even a temporary interruption on either road can create congestion on connecting streets and affect the time taken by public service vehicles to complete their journeys.
Passengers travelling towards Westlands and Kangemi may experience delays on services such as Route 23 from Nairobi to Kangemi through Westlands, particularly if traffic accumulates around Chiromo Road and the Waiyaki Way approaches.
Commuters connecting through Green Park and nearby city termini can consult the Nairobi Bus Stations and Matatu Stages guide to identify alternative boarding areas where necessary.
Drivers approaching the city from Mombasa Road, Lang’ata Road or the southern side of Nairobi should also expect possible delays around the Uhuru Highway connections.
Why the nurses are demonstrating
The procession is part of an ongoing industrial dispute involving nurses and midwives employed by county governments.
The union has demanded the conclusion and implementation of pending collective bargaining agreements, improved employment conditions and the absorption of health workers hired under the Universal Health Coverage programme.
Union officials have maintained that the strike will continue until the outstanding employment and remuneration issues are addressed.
Because the procession is expected to end at Delta Plaza, traffic may become heavier around Chiromo Road, Museum Hill and the Westlands end of Waiyaki Way as participants arrive.
Passengers should allow more time for their journeys, avoid relying on unconfirmed reports of road closures and follow instructions issued by police and traffic officers.
The procession is a developing event. Roads named in the union’s notice may remain open even when traffic is slow, and conditions could return to normal once participants have cleared the affected sections.
