The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has issued a travel advisory to motorists plying the Garissa-Wajir highway after heavy rains cut off a section of the road.
In a statement, the agency has advised motorists trapped between Maalmin road and Jilango to return back to Garissa while travelers between Ohio and Jilango to go back to Modogashe.
“The area is still experiencing enhanced rainfall that might result in recurrence of flood waters which will endanger travellers plying the Garissa-Modogashe-Wajir (A13) road,” the statement reads in part.
The construction works on the damaged section, it however says, have since begun.
“KeNHA has moved construction equipment to Maalmin and initiated construction of diversion roads to enable reinstatement of sections,” it states.
The extent of the damage and the location along the road as a result of the recurrent floods in the area are four kilometers at Ohio where 20 metres of the road was swept away to pave way for crossing water.
Some 25 kilometers at Jilango, 80 meters of the road was swept away to create a river with water being overtopped to a further 200 metres of the road “extensively damaging the pavement and a shoulder erosion of nearly 100 metres”.
Damages were also recorded 40 kilometres at Tog Dub where 300 meters of the road was overtopped by water, 100 meters being cut off, and a further 200 meters being compromised with extensive damage to the surfacing layer and road embankments.
KeNHA also detailed that 45 kilometers at Maalmin 900 meters of the road was also overtopped and washed out urging motorists to keep off the affected areas until cleared for use.
