PHOTOS: Athi River bursts its banks paralysing transport, businesses
River Athi has this morning burst its banks paralysing transport between Kajiado and Nairobi counties.
Tens of families living near the river, as well as business premises including petrol stations, were trapped following floods which came unexpectedly.
Athiriver and its environs received very minimal rain on Monday evening but flood waters from the upper regions of Ngong caught many unaware at around 7 am. The flood waters submerged the Athi River bridge making it impassable.
"Athi River received very minimal rains last evening at around 9 pm. Transport was freely flowing this morning, until suddenly, water levels in river Athi began swelling. A few volunteers took charge warning motorists to take caution and shortly the Athi River bridge was flooded extending kilometres from the river," Joel Musembi, who works at a hotel which was submerged, narrated. 
According to Musembi, those who had reported to their workstations early began running while screaming to alert those along the stretch to scamper for safety on high grounds.
Hundreds of passengers and motorists plying the Namanga-Athiriver remained stranded for hours amid a cry from locals for urgent evacuation of trapped families in the Kasoito area.
"We have tens of houses that have been marooned by the floods in Kasoito. We have those who are calling while trapped in houses but we cannot access the area. Urgent interventions are required to reach them," Musembi said. 
Traffic snarl up extended from Athi River to Kitengela to the chagrin of passengers.
Amid the rising water levels, hundreds of onlookers camped along the river capturing the moment using their mobile phones oblivious of the risk of the floods.
The historic river burst has also been witnessed along Kasoito, Kitengela reserve and Sholinke rivers which supply River Athi.
