Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) confirmed that two sections of the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway have been closed after a dam broke walls and caused a tragedy.
In a statement on Monday morning, the authority revealed that the road had been rendered impassable approximately 700m from Mai Mahiu towards Naivasha.
KeNHA further revealed that the highway had been affected approximately 1km from Mai Mahiu towards Suswa and Narok.
The agency noted that the closures were caused by heavy blockages with efforts to clear the roads already underway.
"Heavy rains in the catchment areas of Kinale and Kijabe have led water courses to experience an upsurge which has led to the washing away of debris and several houses," read the statement by KeNHA.
"These areas are heavily affected, with road blockages reported. Currently, traffic is at a standstill around Mai Mahiu centre."
The authority, as a result, advised motorists to expect high traffic congestion around Mai Mahiu with some asked to seek alternative routes.
For hours, the busy highway has been suffering from a heavy snarl-up which has been exacerbated by the tragedy caused by the dam breaking its banks which caused flooding at Kianduma Bridge.
Preliminary reports estimate that northwards of 20 people have been killed by the flash floods.
"Several people have been taken to a health facility in Mai Mahiu due to flash floods affecting Kamuchiri Village," the Kenya Red Cross revealed.
"The Kenya Police, County Disaster team, Kenya Red Cross and community members are at the scene."
Our earlier reports showed that a bus belonging to Easy Coach company was swept away by the floods but all its occupants had already alighted.
