The Nairobi – Maai Mahiu – Narok Highway was Sunday temporarily closed, after a section of the road developed huge visible cracks in the Mafuta area, near Maai Mahiu.
Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha) advised motorists to use Narok -Kisiriri – Mau Summit-Njoro turn-off Road, Narok –Bomet-Kaplong Road, as engineers move to repair the road.
“Kenha would like to notify motorists and the general public about the closure of the Maai Mahiu –Narok Highway. This closure has been occasioned by a severe crack that has occurred six kilometers from Maai Mahiu Town towards Maai Mhiu, cutting across the road and rendering it unsafe for motorists,” reads part of the statement.
The road is a busy highway that connects Nairobi to the South Rift, the world-famous Maasai Mara game reserve, western Kenya, and south Nyanza.
It is also an alternative route to neighboring Tanzania through Isibania in Migori County.
Kenha said the cause of the crack has not been established through preliminary reports attributed it to the ongoing rains and earth movements.
The area has experienced heavy rain in the past few days.
It is not the first time such a crack happens in the area.
“As Kenha embarks on restoration works at the affected area,all road users plying the Maai Mahiu Narok route are advised to use alternative roads,” further stated Kenha in its statement.
Naivasha police have also asked motorists to use alternative routes and avoid the damaged road.
“We are calling on motorists using the route to adhere to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) directive and use alternative routes,” Naivasha police boss Benjamin Boen said.
It was not immediately clear what occasioned the crack, with the road being prone to perennial damages, especially during heavy rains.
Boen said no incident had been reported but added that the crack was a danger for heavy commercial vehicles plying along the route.
Road engineers involved in repairing the road in the past have blamed the geological setup around the Maai Mahiu area for the occasional damage to the busy Narok-Maai Mahiu road.
