Alerts - Iten-Kabarnet Road Closed as Massive Landslide Cuts Off Kolol

Transport along the critical B16 corridor has come to a standstill after a large section of the Iten-Kabarnet Road was buried under a massive landslide near the Kolol area.

The Kenya National Highways Authority issued a formal traffic advisory on Saturday morning, confirming that the affected section is completely blocked to all vehicular traffic.

According to officials, the earth movement was triggered by the ongoing heavy rainfall that has been pounding various parts of the country over the last several weeks.

Images from the site show a devastating scene where an entire hillside appears to have collapsed, depositing tons of mud, rocks, and uprooted vegetation across both lanes of the tarmac.

The sheer volume of the debris has made the road impassable, leaving motorists stranded and forcing the immediate intervention of the national highways agency.

Director General Eng. Luka Kimeli stated that restoration efforts are currently underway, as the authority moves to mobilize heavy machinery to the site to begin the clearing process.

Engineers on the ground are assessing the stability of the remaining slope to ensure the safety of the recovery teams before full-scale excavation can commence.

KeNHA has warned that while the goal is to reinstate normal traffic flow as soon as possible, the current weather conditions may complicate the timeline for reopening.

Motorists who were planning to travel between Iten and Kabarnet have been advised to seek alternative paths to avoid the gridlock at Kolol.

The recommended detour requires drivers to use the Iten to Eldoret route, then proceed through Eldama Ravine before connecting back to Kabarnet.

This alternative route significantly increases travel time, but officials insist it is the only viable option until the structural integrity of the B16 road is guaranteed.

Those already on the road are being urged to exercise extreme caution, particularly when navigating the winding terrain of the Kerio Valley during the rainy season.

Traffic marshals and police officers have been deployed to the area to direct motorists and prevent any attempts to cross the unstable section.

Adherence to instructions from these officials is mandatory, as the risk of secondary landslides remains high while the soil remains saturated with water.

The authority has committed to providing regular updates as the situation evolves, though no specific hour for reopening has been confirmed.

For now, the focus remains on clearing the debris and ensuring that no further sections of the highway are at risk of collapse under the current deluge.