The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) on Wednesday, September 3 issued an update confirming the Marigat–Loruk (B17) Road would remain closed due to ongoing flooding caused by rising water levels from Lake Baringo.
In a public notice, the authority reiterated that the section between kilometre 29+800 and kilometre 40+000 is still impassable, more than a week since issuing the initial advisory.
The road was initially closed on August 21, following a significant rise in water levels which submerged part of the highway, effectively disrupting travel across the region.
“KeNHA wishes to inform the public that Marigat–Loruk (B17) Road remains closed due to flooding of the road from rising water levels from Lake Baringo,” the authority stated, cautioning motorists against attempting to use the affected stretch.
To ensure public safety while easing movement at the same time, KeNHA provided alternatives routes. These include a diversion which has been graded at kilometre 29+200 on the Marigat–Loruk Road. The diversion now connects to the Loruk–Chemalingot Road at kilometre 2+400.
In the initial advisory, residents and transport operators were advised to plan their journeys accordingly and use the designated alternative routes to avoid unnecessary delays. KeNHA also provided toll-free contacts for real time information on the road conditions.
KeNHA did not reveal the duration of the road closure, possibly because of the unpredictable weather patterns, affecting water levels.
Water levels from lakes typically spill over to roads due to a number of reasons, with prolonged rains being the most common cause. During intense rains, large volumes of water spills to the lake, dramatically increasing water levels.
In other instances, lakes receive water from rivers or underground springs. When upstream areas receive heavy rainfall, rivers feeding the lake bring in more water than it can discharge, causing it to swell and eventually spill over to infrastructure like roads.
Part of the reason KeNHA decided to close the road was because of the huge risk involved in driving in flooded areas. Floodwaters can easily erode a road surface, creating deep potholes which can at times graduate to sinkholes, posing the risk of a vehicle succumbing to what appears to be shallow water.
Further, water coming from an overflowing lake can form dangerous currents which can be deceptively strong and carry the potential to sweep away vehicles and people.
