Waiyaki Way: Dangerous pothole leaves motorists with damaged rims, tyre punctures

A number of motorists using the Waiyaki Way have had their travels interrupted and their pockets drained after hitting a notorious pothole on the major road.

Reports indicate that more than a dozen vehicles hit the pothole in a day, occasioning serious damage to vehicles, and putting lives at risk.

The pothole, which has become a nightmare to road users, is not often easily seen from far, especially by motorists unfamiliar with the road.

The pothole is just near Villa Rosa Kempinski, as you drive from Westlands towards the general direction of Nairobi town. The recent rains have only widened its size and diameter, efficiently turning it into a death trap.

A motorist who raised the alarm after falling victim to the hole said besides tyre punctures, many have wrecked their wheel rims and suspensions.

While filming the spot, he captured a moment a motorist hit the said pothole and punctured his front right tyre. Others swerved dangerously to avoid it.

He said he witnessed 13 cars drive over the pothole and some were not lucky. Seven ended up parking at the edge of the road to change the damaged tyres.

In the clip, three men are seen trying to fill it with stones.

“It is wide and they have failed to fix it and worse there is nothing to alert you about it” a victim said.

Reacting to the video clip posted on twitter, Mathew Kinuthia said he witnessed a motorcyclist crash after hitting it and lost balance.

Ohta Royta revisited his tweet on February 24 in which he tagged The Kenya National Highways Authority and cautioned;

“I saw a massive pothole just outside Kempinski heading to town. I swear if you hit that one you have to buy a new rim, tyre and redo your suspension,” he said.

Just opposite the road, motorists driving from town have had to contend with an open manhole sitting in the middle of the road. This too, according to motorists, has caused damage to many vehicles.

Motorists want the section of the road repaired.