Motorists stuck on flooded Nairobi-Namanga road as Athi River overflows

Tens of motorists are stuck along Nairobi-Namanga Road after it flooded due to flash floods.

A spot check by the Star on Wednesday morning established that several passengers and motorists plying the route were caught off guard by the floods as they headed to Nairobi and Namanga general directions.

They got stuck in their vehicles between River Athi Bridge near Shell petrol station and Shalom Community Hospital in Athi River, Machakos County.

The situation has since led to a snarl-up that continues to pile.

The said Bridge has swollen with the adjacent old bridge submerged by the flood waters.

Athi River East subcounty police commander Anderson Mbae said the situation had been caused by the swollen River Athi which has busted its banks.

Mbae said motorists plying Nairobi - Namanga Road off the busy Nairobi - Mombasa highway had diverted to the alternative Devki - Namanga Road.

"River Athi is maximumly swollen, but we have no reported incident report. The traffic to and from Namanga general direction is being diverted to Devki bypass on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway," Mbae told the Star by phone early Wednesday.

Several estates along River Athi such as Kwa Mang'eli, Kasuitu, Kinanie, Kwa Mawele among others have equally flooded with residents crying out for help.

Machakos County police commander Patrick Lobolia on Tuesday urged those living along banks of rivers and lowland areas to move to safer grounds to avoid being submerged by the ravaging flood waters.

Independent sources told the Star that some houses had been reportedly marooned at the Transview estate within the Mavoko division following Tuesday night's downpour.

This adds to the number of areas where people have been stuck and stranded due to the floods.

An estate in Syokimau was on Sunday flooded leading to residents getting stuck in houses without access to basic social amenities.

Also, a village in the Kinanie division was on Sunday marooned.

Many residents stuck leading to a boat rescue by a multi-agency led by Kenya Redcross.

All the victims totalling 26 were successfully rescued and evacuated to Kinanie Health Centre where they have since squatted with wellwishers helping them to earn a living.

In Masinga, police reported to have recovered a body along River Athi on Monday evening.

Lobolia said it wasn't clear whether the death of the unidentified man had been caused by drowning.

Elsewhere in Katangi, Yatta subcounty, a ten-year-old boy was rescued by a Kenya Police Service chopper after failed attempts by a multiagency team led by Kenya Red Cross to rescue him from the village he had been stuck using a boat.

"All road users are advised to exercise caution as they approach the affected sections of the road. They should also follow directions given by traffic officers to ease snarl up even on the busy Mombasa highway," Mbae said.

"Members of the general public are also advised to keep off the swollen river and those living next to river banks to move to higher grounds as our area might be devoid of any rains, but the flood water always comes from upper zones of Ngong, Kitengela and kajiado areas. We don't want to lose anyone to the ongoing floods as a result of nature," Mbae added.