Thika Road flooding: A tale of woe

Driving on Thika Road during the rainy season can be a nightmare, especially if you're caught in one of the notorious floods that seem to plague the highway every year.
I remember one particularly bad day when I was driving home from work during a torrential downpour. The rain was coming down so hard that I could barely see in front of me. As I approached the Roysambu area, I saw that the road was completely flooded.
Cars were stalled everywhere, and the water was rising fast. I tried to turn around, but it was too late. My car was swept away by the current and I had to abandon it and wade through the waist-high water to safety.
I'm not the only one who has had a harrowing experience driving on Thika Road during a flood. In fact, it's become such a common occurrence that there's even a hashtag for it: #ThikaRoadFlooding.
So what's the cause of all this flooding? There are a number of factors, including:

Poor drainage: The drainage system along Thika Road is inadequate to handle the volume of water that falls during heavy rains.
Encroachment on wetlands: Many wetlands along Thika Road have been filled in or built on, which reduces the amount of land available to absorb rainwater.
Increased urbanization: As more and more people move to Nairobi, the amount of impervious surfaces (such as roads and buildings) increases, which reduces the amount of water that can soak into the ground.

The flooding on Thika Road is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. It's dangerous, it causes traffic delays, and it damages property.
I'm not sure what the solution is, but I hope that the authorities will take action to improve the drainage system and reduce the risk of flooding in the future.
In the meantime, if you're driving on Thika Road during the rainy season, be prepared for the possibility of flooding. If you see water on the road, turn around and find another route.
Better safe than sorry!