KeNHA closes North Horr - Kalacha road due to flooding

Source: The Star
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The Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) has announced the closure of the North Horr - Kalacha (B75) Road due to flooding in the area.

In a statement released on Friday, the authority highlighted that the closure is a result of heavy rains.

"This has been occasioned by flooding in the area resulting from the ongoing heavy rains in Marsabit County and the Ethiopian Highlands," Kenha stated.

Motorists and other road users have been advised to exercise patience until the rain subsides.

As announced by Kenha, traffic flow will resume only after a thorough assessment and potential repair of any damaged sections of the road.

The ongoing Routine Maintenance and Spot Improvement Contract, recently awarded, will facilitate the reinstatement of the road once conditions allow for safe travel.

Nearly all of Kenya will be soaked in heavy rains this weekend.

The regional weatherman said the heavy rains will stretch from Turkana to Tanzanian border.

The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre based in Nairobi had warned Kenyans the rains could lead to flooding.

"Very heavy rainfall is likely to lead to flooding in parts of Kenya, southern and parts of central to northern Ethiopia, and northern Tanzania," Icpac said in a statement.

The forecast covers until April 9 and notes that about 85 per cent of Kenya is going to be soaked.

Although temperatures will drop, they will still be above average for the region during this month.

"Expect cooler than usual temperatures forecast over central to eastern parts of South Sudan and isolated areas in Kenya, northern Uganda and Central Ethiopia," the statement said.

The Kenya Meteorological Department confirmed heavy rains, in a forecast that ends on Monday.

"Rainfall is expected over most parts of the country," said Met director Dr David Gikungu. "Heavy rainfall events are likely to occur in some parts of the highlands east and west of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the southeastern lowlands, the Coast, north-western and north-eastern Kenya," he added.