Transport paralysed as floods cut off parts of Garissa-Mwingi road

Hundreds of travellers from Garissa, Wajir, Mandera and Nairobi counties were stranded on the Garissa-Mwingi road on Tuesday, following flooding due to a heavy downpour.

The most affected areas were Tula and Arer, a few kilometres to Bangale town.

A bus from Nairobi to Wajir was engulfed by floodwaters at Arer after the driver unsuccessfully tried to drive through. Rescuers helped the 51 stranded passengers and did not report any casualties.

In a statement on its social media pages, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) said, “The flooding at Arer has compromised the road and diversions that were previously in use. This poses a high safety risk to road users. This road, therefore, shall remain closed until the flood waters subside and the damaged section is reinstated."

In the Province area of Iftin Ward, Garissa Township, several displaced people put up makeshift structures.

Ramadhan Abubakar from Milimani said the Tana River burst its banks, forcing residents of Bakuyu, Ziwani and Milimani to return to the camps for the internally displaced that they moved out of after last December's El Nino rains.

“The river's water is rising. We fear we will be washed away by the raging floods," he said.

Besides lacking adequate shelter, residents were still recovering from the deaths, displacement and damage to farmlands that they suffered last year.

On Monday, KeNHA closed the KonaPunda section between Garissa and Madogo as the waters were rising, but some motorists attempted to cross.

Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo advised pedestrians and vehicle users against crossings, noting this could lead to deaths.

Mwabudzo further called on all residents living along the River Tana to move to higher ground for safety.

“We are working with the chiefs to mobilise and move the people in risky areas to higher grounds until the waters subside,” he said.  “We urge road users to be cautious and avoid driving in the floodwater for their safety."

KeNHA has also closed the Nairobi-Garissa Highway.

In Garissa earlier on Tuesday, 51 travellers narrowly escaped death when floodwaters engulfed their bus on the Garissa-Nairobi Highway, forcing them to save themselves by climbing to its top.

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The incident occurred at Lager Areli at around 11.30 am as passengers in the Umma Express Bus headed from Garissa to Nairobi.

Thus far, no deaths have been reported in these counties but the damage is extensive, especially to farms along the river, parts of Iftin, Ziwani in Garissa town and other parts of Sankuri.

Severe damage is expected on roads cut off by flooding from last year's El Nino rains as KeNHA temporarily repaired them and had not started permanent works.