NAROK, Kenya, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Authorities said Tuesday they would redesign a busy road in southwest Kenya since it's prone to damage during rainy seasons due to volcanic fault lines underneath.
Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) attributed the persistent fault lines to the existence of volcanic soils in the area but said they will reroute the 13 km Narok-Mai Mahiu section that collapsed during rainy seasons.
"The road at the moment is very safe and we are looking at the issue of redesigns in future so that we can permanently address this problem," KeNHA Engineer Njuguna Gatitu told journalists at the scene.
The busy road, which connects Nairobi with the world famous Masai Mara Game Reserve, beside other towns, has been washed away twice in the past week, disrupting traffic for hours each.
Engineers from China Communications Construction Company swiftly embarked on major repairs of the road to restore traffic flow.
Experts attributed the underground shift of volcanic ash to the formation of fault lines in Mai Mahiu area, which has affected a section of the road.
Volcanic ash normally becomes wet during underground erosion, bringing about the instability of the topsoil, which then sinks.
Thomas Ndola, a geologist from the Ministry of Mining, said a major study has been started around the affected areas.
Initial investigations have identified various underground tunnels in the region, caused by past volcanic activities around Mt. Longonot area, Ndola said.
"The situation at the moment is serious and the allegations by some experts that these faults are causing the continent to drift apart are a bit far-fetched," he said.
Ndola said that the same situation has been reported in parts of Nakuru, the country's fourth largest town, adding that ongoing rains had played a role in formation of the fault lines.
"We shall start mapping out the areas affected by this phenomena, which we expect to end once the ongoing rains subside," he said.
KeNHA officials said two sections of the road have been affected, and that monitors have been put in place to sections of the road.
Gatitu, who is in charge of road maintenance, said a contractor is on standby in case the road is cut off once again.
He assured motorists using the road that the affected section has been repaired, despite the latest hiccup that saw it cut off again.
One of the affected farmers, Joel Kung'u, said he is living in fear after the fault line spread to his farm, which is located off the road.
"The fault line has already cut off part of my plot... and (I) don't know where to go despite the advice from the state," he said.
