Kyamwilu
Monday ,20 2024
By Teddy Makori
Transport activities along the Machakos-Kangundo road have been temporarily disrupted following a fallen rock debris which blocked the road posing danger to Motorists.
Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) officials who accessed the damaged site noted that the fallen rock debris was due to the heavy rains that terrorized the area in the evening hours of Sunday warning of possible land slides.
Meanwhile, Motorist and pedestrians were compelled to use alternative routes after the affected part was closed at Kyamwilu.
Locals living around Kyamwilu area especially the youths have protested the move to close the road, citing disruption of their businesses since they mostly depend on Motorists as customers.
Last week the meteorological department warned of expected torrential rains over the weekend with Motorists urged to be vigilant around hilly and rocky regions prone to rock falls.
The Incident comes weeks after some 89 lives were claimed in Mai Mahiu following a devastating debris flow which swept through a village on 29th April, destroying infrastructure and property.
The disaster was triggered by heavy rainfall, but there has been considerable misreporting of the cause, with many outlets describing the event as a dam burstThe National Transport Authority has urged road users to avoid using roads which have been described as ‘dangerous, during this rainy season.
Also the Kenya Rural Urbans Roads Authority in a statement mentioned that it has cancelled road maintenance across the country allow reasses of the damages which have been caused by the heavy rains across the country and try to adjust the contract that will enable quality maintenance.
The repairs are expected to be heavily expensive , as mentioned by Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who in a television interview just few days ago noted that delays in repairs and Maintenance are due to pending financial dispatchment to the ministry of transport.
CS Murkomen however noted that the work will begin as soon as money has been disbursed.