The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) on Monday, April 29, directed motorists to use alternative routes after it announced the closure of the Mai Mahiu - Narok road.
The Authority noted the closure was to allow for the removal of debris deposited along the major highway by floods.
Motorists plying the route were advised to use alternative routes to access their destinations including the main Nairobi - Nakuru Highway.
According to KeNHA, its contractor was already on site and the process of clearing the deposits from the highway had already begun.
“This follows sudden siltation, coupled with heavy debris deposited on a section stretching over a kilometre this evening at the Suswa area, about 27 kilometres from Mai Mahiu town towards Narok,” KeNHA noted.
“The closure will allow smooth clearance of the siltation and avoid incidents of vehicles getting stuck, among other possible dangers.”
KeNHA's new directive came hours after it flagged a report suggesting it had closed the same highway.
The flagged post claimed that KeNHA closed the road after cracks emerged, a rumour that sparked fear among motorists.
"This closure has been occasioned by a severe crack that has occurred six (6) Kilometres from Mai Mahiu Town towards Mai Mahiu, cutting across the road and thus rendering the road unsafe to motorists," suggested the post flagged by KeNHA.
The highway was on Sunday, April 28 rendered impassable after floods swept through, leaving rabbles along the road thus resulting in traffic snarl-up.
In the Sunday night floods, about 20 people living near the highway were also confirmed dead after they were swept by the raging waters.
Since the onset of the long rains that have resulted in floods in different parts of the country, several highways have been closed.
