Nairobi rains: Motorists stuck in traffic after section of Waiyaki Way floods

The rains started on Wednesday night, and continued until Thursday mid-morning, with some roads taking in water.

Motorists using the Waiyaki Way from town, spent nearly one hour stuck in traffic after water flooded a section of the road, just where it hugs Riverside Drive.

“I should be on my third trip already, all because we were stuck in traffic after water flooded the road at Chiromo,” Jose, a matatu driver told Wananchi Reporting.

Around 10am in the morning, streams of water could still be seen forcefully jutting out from under a mound of earth under the giant pillars hoisting the Nairobi Expressway – and emptying into the low-lying road.

“I understand that the drainage line that is supposed to drain the water coming from the opposite side of the road is blocked,” said Jose Kamau, a matatu driver plying the Waiyaki Route.

Motorist plying the route had to slow-down upon reaching the flooded area, which resulted in a huge traffic.

According to residents, some vehicles, especially those with low ground clearance took in water, and got stuck in the dirty water.

Good Samaritans had to help pull out some of the stalled vehicles to clear the road, and allow traffic to flow.

It was a near similar situation in most estates in Eastlands, with rainwater running riot; flooding roads and drainage lines.

“Today is very chaotic because schools have closed for half-term, and you can see many students are in town this morning, trying to reach home,” said Kamau.

Some matatus, however, took advantage of the rains and the resultant commotion to hike fares.

The rains are coming just days after the Kenya Meteorological Department issued a communication informing residents to expect rains starting March.

“Rainfall is expected to increase in intensity and spread to several places towards the end of the third week of March,” Director of Kenya Meteorological Department Dr. David Gikingu recently said.

Meanwhile, residents of Nairobi who spoke to Wananchi Reporting are asking the county government to open up blocked drainage lines to avoid flooding in the estates.