- The road's embarkment has has collapsed in the affected sections, causing significant damage to the road.
- Several roads have been affected by mudslides in the county as heavy rains continue to be experienced.
Image: Alice Waithera
As the heavy rains continue to wreak havoc across the country, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has closed off a major road in Murang’a after sections of it were destroyed.
The Murang’a Kiria-ini road, one of the main roads in the county and which connects Murang’a to Nyeri county, has been closed after its embankment collapsed in five points between Murang’a town and Mugeka area.
This has caused significant damage to the road, posing a serious risk to both motorists and pedestrians.
Consequently, KeNHA has directed traffic from Kiria-ini to Mugeka-Kaweru Junction-Gakonya for those travelling towards Murang’a town.
Travellers heading to Kiria-ini have been advised to use the longer Murang’a-Kangema-Kiria-ini route or Murang’a-Gatiba Junction-Gitugi-Kiria-ini route.
The route is often used by people travelling from Murang’a to Othaya and Mukurwe-ini areas in Nyeri county and is pivotal to the local economies.
In a statement released through its social media forums, the authority said it is actively monitoring the situation to determine the necessary remedial actions.
“Motorists are urged to remain vigilant and adhere to safety protocols, especially during heavy rains,” the authority cautioned.
Peter Njuguna, a boda boda rider, said the curvy and hilly road has developed cracks in several areas and that it would have posed a great risk to residents had it not been closed.
Image: Alice Waithera
"We want KeNHA to act in haste and repair this road because we depend on it for our activities," he said, adding that the alternative routes provided are too far off.
Murang’a county has been experiencing heavy rains that have caused its rivers to swell and over saturated its soils.
This has led to several mudslides that have affected transport operations along several roads, with residents urging road agencies to remain vigilant and ensure the blockages are cleared off the roads in time for safety.
Along Murang’a Iyego Kangema road, a mudslide caused a huge bolder to roll onto the road on Friday night, blocking one lane.
The county director of meteorology Anthony Kinyua said the county received a minor reduction in rainfall on Friday.
On Saturday, some semi-arid parts of the county received above average rainfall of between 35 to 50mm.
The areas that include some parts of Maragua, Ithanga and Murang’a East are known for their hot and dry weather that slows down their development despite being highly agricultural.
The heavy rains have however sparked concerns that crops may wither in the farms due to too much moisture in the soils.
County head of disaster management Bilha Wanjiku cautioned residents against sheltering under trees during rains.
“Heavy rains are usually accompanied by thunderstorms and lightnings that can strike a tree,” she said.