Pipeline Estate Submerged as Heavy Rains Paralyse Nairobi Roads
Pipeline Estate in Nairobi is facing severe flooding as heavy rains have rendered streets impassable, leaving residents struggling to navigate mud, stagnant water, and uncollected waste.
Kware Road, once a busy route for motorists, traders, and boda boda riders, has been transformed into a swamp-like stretch. Residents are forced to wade through deep sludge, with women carrying children on their backs and men pushing handcarts through the mire. Street vendors continue to operate on the few dry patches, cooking under umbrellas as water collects around their stalls.
Meteorological reports indicate that rainfall exceeding 20 millimetres in 24 hours is expected to continue and intensify between 4 and 7 March. Apartment blocks in Pipeline tower over streets now filled with grey sludge, while uncollected rubbish exacerbates health risks.
The flooding extends beyond Pipeline. Major Nairobi roads, including Kenyatta Avenue, Uhuru Highway, and Moi Avenue, are submerged in runoff, creating fast-moving streams. The Nairobi Expressway reports flooding near Greenpark Underpass, and commuters on the Thika Superhighway encounter waterlogged sections around Githurai and Kahawa Sukari.
Similar conditions are affecting Mombasa Road, Limuru Road, Lang’ata Road, and Jogoo Road, where traffic slows as vehicles navigate submerged stretches.
In Narok County, mourners attending the funeral of the late MP Johana Ngeno faced flooded roads near Emurua Dikirr Primary School. Online videos show convoys of SUVs advancing cautiously through swollen currents while residents remain stranded at the roadside.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has issued safety guidelines warning that heavy rain and fog are creating hazardous driving conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain safe distances, reduce speed, keep headlights on, avoid crossing flooded roads, and remove stalled vehicles promptly.
