Motorists plying the busy Kendu Bay-Homa Bay route are facing a week and a half of disruptions after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) ordered the immediate closure of the Kanyadhiang’ Bridge.

The 10-day closure, effective from this morning, has been necessitated by what engineers term "critical structural defects" on the bridge’s approach slab. While KeNHA insists the main bridge structure is safe, the deteriorating access points pose a risk of collapse under heavy load, forcing the emergency intervention.

The Diversion Matrix

In a joint statement with Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, KeNHA has rolled out a diversion plan that will add approximately 5 kilometers to the typical journey. The logistical headache is expected to hit matatu operators and fish traders the hardest, as fuel costs and time delays eat into their thin margins.

• The New Route: Motorists heading to Kendu Bay must now turn left at the Goshen Hotel, navigate the Oluch Intake Bridge, pass Nyangajo Primary School, and rejoin the main tarmac via Obama Road. The reverse applies for those heading to Homa Bay Town.
• Local Impact: "This is the third time they are repairing this slab," complained John Ochieng, a bodaboda rider at the junction. "Every time they close it, our fuel consumption goes up by KES 200 a day. Who will compensate us?"

Infrastructure Woes

The closure highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining Nyanza’s aging road network, which has been battered by the recent El Niño rains. The "approach slab" failure is a common symptom of soil saturation and poor drainage maintenance.

KeNHA has deployed traffic marshals to the dusty diversion route to prevent the gridlock that characterized previous closures. For the next 10 days, patience will be the most valuable commodity on the roads of Homa Bay.