By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has advised motorists to exercise caution while driving along the busy Mombasa Road in Nairobi.
KeNHA in a traffic advisory on Wednesday night said part of the road was flooded following heavy rains the city had experienced in the last few days.
The agency noted that the flooding has largely affected the road between Athi River interchange and Sabaki.
“KeNHA informs motorists that a section of Mombasa Road, between Athi River Interchange and Sabaki on the route to Nairobi, is currently flooded,” read part of the advisory.
“Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution,” it added.
KeNHA went further to list some of the guidelines that motorists should adhere to when during a flooded road.
They include driving at a reduced speed to maintain control of the vehicle, maintaining a safe distance to allow sudden stops and avoiding unnecessary lane changes and overtaking.
“Your safety is our top priority. Drive safely,” the agency said.
Transport in several roads across the city has faced disruptions in the last few days following floodings.
KeNHA has been issuing regular updates on the state of various roads across the city and surrounding areas.
Earlier in the day, the agency had to deploy it’s team to open up part Thika Superhighway that has also flooded.
“The Authority has resolved to open a guard rail with a back hoe as a temporary measure to ease flooding water and restore traffic to normalcy at Juja underpass,” KeNHA said.
Athi River – Namanga Road had also flooded by transport was restored.
Aside from transport, the floods have also left several Nairobians homeless.
Several houses in both informal and formal settlements within the city have been submerged.
The Kenya Red Cross team was in the part part of the day involved in efforts to rescue locals stranded after their houses were flooded.
They rescued at least 18 people in Mradi area within Mathare and Githuria.
Bodies of four people were also retrieved from the raging flood.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has also called on the national emergency team to support the county in response to the floods.
He said the county has already been overwhelmed with the magnitude of the floodings