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

  • $541 million highway for Kenya
    July 31, 2025
    A new $541 million highway is planned for Kenya.
    Read More
  • New study into the impact of weather on Europe’s transport
    November 5, 2012
    A new study into the impact of extreme weather conditions on Europe’s transport network has been carried out by Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre. This broad-based study covered all 27 EU states and highlighted that some countries face significantly higher risks of transport disruption than others. This is the first study worldwide to evaluate risks to transport from weather phenomena on a country-specific and mode-specific basis. The study revealed that Poland faces particular problems, while other h
    Read More
  • Resilient roads: sector cooperation is the key
    March 11, 2021
    Now is the time for national road agencies and the private sector to cooperate on building more climate resilient roads, urges Dr Erik Denneman*.
    Read More
  • Mexico has plans for massive infrastructure investment
    July 19, 2013
    Mexico’s Government has plans for a massive programme of infrastructure improvements across the country. In all some US$314 billion will be invested in infrastructure, of which $47 billion will be targeted at improving the country’s transportation network. Mexico’s national transport and communications ministry, SCT, will manage the projects which include works for highways and airports. The plans are expected to include a combination of private and public funding sources, although further details have yet
    Read More

Highlighted Content