The Mombasa-Nairobi Highway has been closed as a result of heavy floods that have pounded the area at Mto ya Mawe in Machakos County.

The floods have resulted in the Athi River bursting its banks and flooding that has spilled over to the Mombasa Highway.

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua sent out an emergency alert warning road users using the busy Nairobi-Mombasa Road.

"As it is right now, the water is rising. Our emergency assessment is that the highway wil be cut off until tomorrow. The road is now CLOSED.

Machakos County Emergency Services have rescued over 50 people (mostly the elderly, house helps and children) from some of the submerged houses of Green Park Estate. Our teams will be on ground overnight and are responding county wide to flooding. Mombasa Highway is CLOSED," Mutua tweeted.

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has alerted motorists to avoid Stoni Athi Bridge along the Athi River- Machakos turnoff which has been flooded.

Nairobi on Thursday was brought to a near standstill after torrential rains pounded the city.

The floods led to major traffic snarl ups on major roads leading into and out of the city.