Hundreds of passengers stranded after traffic flow along Thika-Garissa Road was disrupted by floods
The Kenya National Highways Authority said the right-hand side of the road has been washed away due to the ongoing floods which overwhelmed the adjacent box culverts.
Hundreds of passengers from Garissa and Nairobi are stranded at the Arer area after traffic flow along the the Thika - Garissa Road was disrupted by floods approximately 41 kilometres from Bangali Town.
The road links the counties of Tana River, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera to the capital city of Nairobi.
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Abbey Mohamed, one of the travellers on board Alma Bus Services and a resident of Garissa, said the road has been washed away completely and the bus owners are working on other options to see if they can cross the damaged part by foot for them to get into another bus from Nairobi.
“I witnessed a snarl up of over 80 trucks and more than 20 private vehicles affected on the normally busy road," said Abbey.
The Kenya National Highways Authority on Wednesday issued an advisory saying the right-hand side of the road has been washed away due to the ongoing floods which overwhelmed the adjacent box culverts.
A section of the Thika - Garissa Road (A3) affected by floods at Arer on 22 November 2023. (Photo: Courtesy)
"Motorists are advised to exercise patience and to allow water levels to subside before proceeding with their journey. KeNHA Staff are on-site to help restore traffic passage through the affected Road section," KeNHA said in a statement on Wednesday.
A section of the Thika - Garissa Road (A3) affected by floods at Arer on 22 November 2023. (Photo: KeNHA)
This comes after several buses that operate Nairobi and Mandera shut down their operations for the last three weeks following the damaged Nuno-Madogashe road and Kutolo road that links Wajir and Mandera was rendered impassible.
Hundreds of passengers are still trapped in the affected Garissa and Mandera road.
A section of the Thika - Garissa Road (A3) affected by floods at Arer on 22 November 2023. (Photo: KeNHA)
The El Nino rains have had devastating effects on infrastructure across the country with roads being the most affected with certain regions, especially in the Northern and Coastal regions being cut off leading to a humanitarian crisis in parts of Kenya.
Last weekend, three people died in Kwale at the Ramisi Bridge in Lungalunga after they were swept away by the raging flood waters at the Ramisi Bridge.
The deceased included two KRA officers and a boda boda rider.
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