Skip to main content

East Africa road flooding causes damage

Heavy rains across East Africa have caused major problems to road links for the region. The rains have resulted in roads being washed away in rural areas, while urban areas have also suffered badly. Storm drainage in many areas has proven unable to cope. Kenya’s busy capital Nairobi has seen roads that are normally heavily congested suddenly resemble rivers, with water washing away vehicles and various structures.
May 22, 2018 Read time: 1 min
Heavy rains across East Africa have caused major problems to road links for the region. The rains have resulted in roads being washed away in rural areas, while urban areas have also suffered badly. Storm drainage in many areas has proven unable to cope. Kenya’s busy capital Nairobi has seen roads that are normally heavily congested suddenly resemble rivers, with water washing away vehicles and various structures.


A number of key road links have been blocked as a result of floods and landslides. The highway connecting Rwanda’s capital Kigali with Gatuna had to be closed recently, causing delays to transport as the route is an important links with neighbouring Uganda.

Kenya’s Government is budgeting US$187 million to repair road links, while the Rwandan Government has estimated that road repairs to its flood-damaged routes will cost $28 million.

Related Content

  • Tanzania’s flood damaged roads
    February 28, 2020
    Tanzania’s flood damaged roads need urgent repairs.
  • Climate change is damaging roads
    August 16, 2018
    With 2018 well under way, the ravages of extreme weather in recent months is now sadly apparent on the road network in many countries, and even on many continents. In East Africa, heavy rains have overwhelmed storm drains in many areas, with flood waters washing away vehicles and damaging road surfaces in urban and rural areas alike. Road repairs are now having to be carried out in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda to patch up surfaces that have been washed away, along with the replacement of signage and
  • Kenya road repairs required following flooding
    May 29, 2018
    Recent heavy rains in Kenya have caused extensive damage to the road network, washing away road surfaces and signage and causing scouring of bridges. As much as US$180 million may be required to carry out the necessary repairs to the road network. Nairobi and its surrounding area have been particularly badly hit. The city’s central business district and various industrial areas are key to the country’s economy and have suffered extensive damage to various road sections, so repairing these areas is seen as a
  • Plans in hand for Uganda’s key highway upgrade
    July 25, 2014
    In Uganda planning is underway for the upgrade of the Kampala-Jinja route. Preparations are being made for a new tolled highway connecting with capital Kampala. The upgrade will see the route being widened with four lanes for much of the length, six lanes on the approach to Kampala and up to eight lanes where vehicle densities will be heaviest to carry the capital’s traffic. The construction work is expected to cost some US$74 million and the new link will connect with the existing Kampala-Entebbe highway.