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.

Road Structures

Related Content

  • Harsh winter weather impacts on road surfaces
    February 27, 2012
    With warmer weather now spreading across the Northern Hemisphere, the impact of a second successive harsh winter can finally be seen on the roads of many nations. The transport links of many countries were affected badly by tough winter conditions. From the US to Russia and the 27 European Union members, heavy snow blocked roads and led to endless delays.
    Read More
  • Rwanda’s new northern route planned
    May 23, 2018
    In Rwanda, a US$66 million deal has been signed for construction work on a road running from Base and through Butaro to Kidaho. The 63km stretch road is intended to improve transport connections in the north of the country. The work on this road will boost the country’s connections with neighbouring Uganda, helping develop trade and transport between the two nations.
    Read More
  • Kenya highway link upgrade planned
    June 19, 2017
    Plans are moving forward with regard to the upgrade work to the highway connecting Kenya’s capital Nairobi with the port of Mombasa.
    Read More
  • Funding issues – delays to Kenya’s major highway project?
    April 17, 2018
    Concerns over financing are delaying progress on Kenya’s massive highway connection project. The new highway between the capital Nairobi and the country’s premier port of Mombasa is expected to cost in the region of US$3.5 billion. Construction is being managed by the US contractor Bechtel, which is sourcing suitable funding from private firms and has considerable experience of building highways in developing nations. But the sheer scale of this project, one of the country’s largest since its independence,
    Read More

Highlighted Content