Heavy rains have caused the Sultan Hamud River to overflow, submerging the bridge and cutting off the Nairobi-Mombasa highway in Makueni County. The flooding has brought traffic to a standstill, leaving motorists and passengers stranded. Some vehicles were abandoned in the middle of the road as the situation worsened ¹.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has advised drivers to divert via the Nairobi-Machakos-Wote-Makindu route to avoid the congestion. The authority is working to reopen the affected section of the road and has urged motorists to exercise caution ².
This is not an isolated incident, as several parts of the country have experienced heavy rains, resulting in significant property damage, including vehicles and houses. In Nairobi, flash floods have claimed lives and disrupted airport operations. The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned of continued heavy rainfall, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides ³ ⁴.
Affected Areas:
- Makueni County: Sultan Hamud Bridge and surrounding areas
- Nairobi: Flooding reported in various parts of the city
- Kisumu County: Wang’chieng Ward affected by flooding
Government Response:
The government has activated a multi-agency emergency response, with representatives from the National Police Service, Kenya Red Cross, Meteorological Department, and National Youth Service meeting to discuss response measures. President William Ruto has announced a Sh1 billion plan to fix Nairobi’s chronic flooding issue ² ⁵.
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