Mai-Mahiu: Scores Missing As Heavy Floods Sweep Away Cars At Night

• Transportation was ground to a halt at Mai Mahiu along the busy Nairobi-Naivasha Highway due to heavy floods
• The dam at Old Kijabe burst its bank, causing the floods to cut through villages as it swept vehicles on the roads
• In the wake of the tragedy, onlookers gathered at the site, some to offer assistance, while others captured the unfolding events

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Intense fear grips communities across the country as relentless downpours trigger widespread flooding, inundating homes and roads.

In the early hours of Monday, April 29, the bustling Nairobi-Naivasha Highway in the Mai-Mahiu area bore witness to a harrowing scene as floodwaters swept away numerous vehicles at 3 am.

Ramogi TV reported that the deluge was unleashed when the Kijabe River breached its banks, engulfing villagers and travellers alike.

Search and rescue efforts are in full swing to locate missing individuals, including both locals and those who were travelling through the area.

Transportation has ground to a halt, evident from footage showing an Easy Coach bus among other cars stuck amidst fallen trees, far from the main highway.

In the wake of the tragedy, onlookers gathered at the site, some to offer assistance while others captured the unfolding events.

Why did Machogu postpone schools reopening?

The Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has postponed schools reopening due to the ongoing heavy rains in the country.

Machogu said the schools will reopen a week after finding out that several schools were flooded and could pose severe problems.

He made the announcement after the field officers who were sent to assess schools reported the dire situations of most schools, and hence learners could not access their classes.

What else you need to know about floods in the country

• A boat carrying over 40 passengers capsized in River Tana, 28 people were confirmed dead
• CNN journalist Larry Madowo revealed a video of the flooded export zone at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, leading to the damaging of flowers in the cold room
• A mother and child died after flashfloods swept them while travelling to Sindo town in Homa Bay

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke