Nakuru–Eldoret Highway Reopens After Sinkhole Disruption

• Sep 04, 2025

The Nakuru–Eldoret Highway has been reopened after engineers confirmed it was safe, following the sudden appearance of a sinkhole that briefly cut off transport at the Eveready Roundabout in Nakuru City.

On Thursday, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) said the stretch was now secure after emergency teams worked overnight to assess and stabilize the affected section. The incident, which happened on Wednesday evening, left motorists stranded and raised concerns over the risks posed by sinkholes to major highways.

Sinkholes are natural depressions in the ground caused when surface layers collapse into cavities below. They often occur with little or no warning, making them especially dangerous to infrastructure, motorists, and nearby communities. Depending on their size, they can range from a few feet wide to several meters deep.

Experts say sinkholes can form either naturally or due to human activity. Natural causes include the erosion of soluble rocks such as limestone or volcanic ash by groundwater, creating underground voids that eventually collapse. In the Rift Valley, where the Nakuru–Eldoret Highway passes, geological features like limestone deposits and pyroducts—natural conduits left behind by past volcanic activity—make the area particularly vulnerable. KeNHA noted that the recent sinkhole could have been influenced by pyroduct behaviour upstream, with heavy rainfall further accelerating erosion.

Human activities, including poorly managed construction, broken water pipes, drilling, or excessive farming, can also contribute to soil subsidence, weakening the ground’s stability. In urban areas, poor drainage worsens the situation by allowing water to pool, putting additional pressure on the soil.

KeNHA warned that highways running through geologically active regions, including Nakuru–Eldoret, Kericho–Bomet, Naivasha–Narok, and Naivasha–Nakuru, are at higher risk of sinkholes. The authority confirmed that ongoing surveillance will continue, particularly in pyroduct zones, to detect shifts before they cause collapses.

The reopening of the highway has eased traffic flow for motorists, but officials have urged drivers to remain alert and observe caution when traveling through areas known to be geologically unstable. For KeNHA, the incident is a reminder of the need for constant monitoring and preventive measures to safeguard lives and critical infrastructure.