Kenya National Highways Authority Saturday closed Kaplong -Kisii Road for a short while over flooding.
This came after the Kipsonoi River Bridge, which connects Sotik and Chepilat, experienced severe flooding due to intense rainfall.
“Water levels have risen above the bridge rendering passage unsafe,” the authority warned.
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Kenya National Highways Authority said in a statement on X that the water levels had risen above the bridge, making travel dangerous.
The road was however in use on Sunday morning after the water levels went down, motorists said.
According to Kenya National Highways Authority, “this comes after significant rainfall in the catchment basins, which caused a spike in runoff, particularly this evening.”
“The Authority staff have been on the ground monitoring the water levels the whole day and were earlier guiding motorists on the safe crossing sections,”
The Authority advised motorists planning to use the road to seek alternative routes; with those headed to headed to Chebilat and Keroka advised to use the Kaplong Sotik Roret – Ikonge – Chebilat – Keroka route while those headed to Kisii have been advised to use the Kaplong – Sotik – Roret – Ikonge – Kisii route.
If the rains continue to be experienced in the area and lead to flooding, the authority may again close the road.
These include a few areas in western Kenya, especially those around the Lake Victoria basin (Siaya, Busia, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Vihiga, Kakamega and Nandi), southern Rift Valley (Bomet, Kericho, Narok), and the south-eastern lowlands (Kajiado, Kitui, Makueni, Machakos and Taita Taveta).
The others are the highlands east of the Rift Valley (Nairobi, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Embu) and the coastal region (Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu and the Southern parts of Tana River).
The flooding on the section of the road comes after the weatherman warned of a weekend of heavy rainfall and storms in most parts of the country.
The meteorological department said isolated storms and heavy rainfall will be felt in parts of the highlands East of Rift Valley including Nairobi.
Regions along South of the Rift Valley, parts of the Coastal strip, and South-Eastern lowlands will also experience precipitation.
The Met Department added that Isiolo and Samburu Counties may experience rainfall from Friday to Monday and they should be very careful.
The intense rains disrupted normalcy, engulfing streets, with some businesses forced to shut down temporarily in parts of Nairobi.
