TORRENTIAL RAINSTORMS HIT PARTS OF KENYA
Reports are streaming in from Kenya’s capital Nairobi, confirmed by emergency services passing on information on flooding in the city to motorists via Twitter, that large sections are suffering extensive flooding. Key roundabouts into the city centre, like at traffic hot spot Nyayo Stadium, are under water, sections of the Mombasa road to the airport are impassable, housing estates marooned and traffic subsequently at a standstill and piling up, where roads can no longer be safely passed.
The Kenya Red Cross, a leader in swift updates vis a vis traffic in Kenya, as well as in reporting accidents to make motorists aware of jams, has also named the Kisumu to Kericho highway, the Nyeri – Kiganjo – Nanyuki road, the wider Nyahururu area, the Embu to Meru road, the Muranga to Othaya road, the entire area between Kakamega and Mumias, the Nairobi – Limuru – Naivasha highway and Kabarnet – Iten – Eldoret as being of low to very low visibility due to low hanging rainclouds and torrential rain. Other parts of the country, including approached to key national parks, are equally affected.
Several accidents are also appearing on the time line of the Kenya Red Cross twitter handle with extreme caution advised due to the slippery conditions of roads and highways and waterlogged surfaces.
Other reports from travelers to the parks over the Christmas holidays also speak of partially heavy rains with some off the beaten track paths impassable. A university bus with 60 students on excursion to Tsavo East National Park had to be rescued, again attributed to a swift reaction by the KRC which alerted park authorities.
Travelers heading to Kenya though are reassured by the tourism associations that safari operators are closely working with police and emergency services to ensure that visitors from abroad are not heading into harms’ way while making extra efforts to ensure that safari itineraries are not disrupted. It is recommended though that any concerns be directed to the respective safari operators for up to date information, or else follow @KenyaRedCross on Twitter for instant updates.
