The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) on Monday, May 1, announced the reopening of Mai Mahiu- Narok Road. The agency revealed that the road would be opened on Tuesday, May 2 afternoon.
The road was closed on Sunday, April 30 after floods washed away a section of the road.
KeNHA noted that the restoration work was in top gear and the teams were instructed to work day and night to ensure the road is reopened as soon as possible.
"The Authority hereby notifies the public that the restoration works are in top gear and the team on site has been instructed to work day and night to ensure that the road is open to traffic as soon as possible," read part of KeNHA statement.
Ministry of Roads and Transport officials led by the Principal Secretary for Roads Eng. Joseph Mbugua, and KeNHA Director General Eng. Kungu Ndungu, assured the public that the road could be fully restored before the end of Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Eng. Mbugua was pleased with the rate at which the construction work was being carried out while calling for patience and tolerance from motorists due to the inconveniences.
"We thank the public for their patience and continue to urge everyone to be vigilant while using the roads, especially during this rainy season," Mbugua stated.
The Mai Mahiu - Narok Highway developed deep cracks rendering the road unsafe to motorists.
This occurred at a section of 6km from Mai Mahiu Town, towards Narok.
Officials from the Ministry of Transport ordered for closure of the Road for the safety of the public and to allow an expedition of restoration works.
This was not the first incident of heavy rains destroying roads, as a similar incident occurred along the Narok-Maai Mahiu Road on Thursday, March 23, when motorists were stranded after rainwater washed away part of the Mai Mahiu-Narok road in the Suswa area.
The traffic snarl-up stretched for several kilometres after a standstill occasioned by the soil and debris of the floods, which rendered the road impassable.
Witnesses from the scene reported that motorists kept off a heap of silt deposited on the road for fear of getting stuck, causing the jam, which lasted for over six hours.
Elsewhere, seven residents of Ongata Rongai estate, Kajiado County, perished on August 21, 2018, in flood waters after a bridge they were walking over collapsed.
The Fatima South Bridge is believed to have crashed into River Kandisi due to structural failures that were amplified by the flash floods.
