Several parts of Nairobi have been marooned by floods following heavy rains experienced on Saturday night.
Several roads, including Mombasa Road, Raila Odinga Road and other major roads in South C, Kangundo Road, Parklands and neighbouring counties including Machakos and Kajiado also recorded flooding.
Floods swept several cars while a number of residents placed distress calls including Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Fuata Nyayo, Land Mawe and Mukuru Kayaba.
Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) has advised motorists to exercise caution along the flooded roads until the waters subside.
“We wish to warn motorists plying Raila Odinga Road, Langata Road near Wilson Airport and Links Road- Nyali in Mombasa county of serious flooding following the unprecedented heavy rains. Motorists are advised to drive with caution as they approach these sections. Alternatively, motorists should avoid these roads until floods subside,” KURA stated.
“Our technical team are on the ground to ascertain how best we can mitigate the effects of this flooding on our roads. Traffic police are on site to ensure safe passage of traffic and to guide Motorists on other alternative routes.”
Flood distress calls
According to the Kenya Red Cross, at least 360 apartments in Syokimau in Machakos were marooned by floods.
“Following overnight rains, our Nairobi Red Cross branch has dispatched its team to carry out assessments in the following areas due to the effects of flooding: Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Fuata Nyayo, Land Mawe and Mukuru Kayaba. In Machakos, our team has also dispatched its Red Cross Action Team to 360 apartments in Syokimau following a distress call,” Kenya Red Cross stated.
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai says several Nairobi MCAs were placing distress calls with the county disaster management department following the floods.
“The Nairobi City County MCAs are helplessly sharing images asking for help for their constituents marooned in floods all over the county. When we assumed office, we asked for a statement and thorough report on the Nairobi Disaster preparedness,” Alai stated.
“County Executive blocked the production of such report because they know that they sold county land meant for disaster response related facilities to grabbers.”
According to the weather forecast by the Kenya Meteorological Department, the heavy rains being experienced in the country will continue till the end month.
“Rainfall is expected to continue over several parts of the country,” the weatherman says.
Heavy rainfall events are likely to occur in some parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the South-eastern lowlands, the Coast and North-eastern Kenya.
High average daytime (maximum) temperatures of more than 30oC will be experienced in a number of counties including Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Garissa, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Mombasa and Kwale.
Average night-time (minimum) temperatures will be moderate (between 100C and 200C) over much of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley
