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

  • Bridge collapse on key I-5 route in Washington State
    June 24, 2013
    The news that a key highway bridge has collapsed in the US comes as gloomy reading for all in the highway sector. When a section of the Interstate 5 Bridge over the Skagit River in Washington failed in May 2013, a number of vehicles were plunged into the river. Luckily no-one was killed in the incident on the route, which is one of the main links between the US and Canada, and the parallel bridge was able to carry traffic, albeit with delays for users.
    Read More
  • Business confidence
    June 10, 2019
    Business confidence in construction looks healthy in many countries around the world. Transport infrastructure remains a high priority for construction activity around the globe. China is continuing to develop its own internal transport network, while also funding a massive programme of works under its Belt & Road plan. The impact of the Belt & Road programme is being seen in Asia, Russia and also parts of Africa, with the aim of unlocking economic activity by boosting transport connections, whether by road
    Read More
  • Japan investing in Ugandan roads
    January 31, 2014
    Japanese investment is helping develop Ugandan infrastructure. Construction of the New Nile Bridge is being part-financed by the Japanese Government. Some US$90 million for the dual-lane bridge is being provided through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The bridge forms part of the important Northern Transport Corridor of East Africa, which runs from the Port of Mombasa in Kenya through Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This route is vital for Uganda’s economy, as
    Read More
  • A new transportation project for Northern Southeast Asia
    March 2, 2022
    Transport in Northern Southeast Asia is to benefit from a new US$145 million project
    Read More

Highlighted Content