At least 23 people have died following severe flash floods that swept through Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, after heavy rainfall late Friday night, police confirmed on Saturday.
The torrential downpour turned several major roads into rivers, flooding homes, businesses and informal settlements across the city. Rescue operations were still ongoing as emergency teams searched for survivors and recovered bodies from flooded areas.
Police said at least 29 people were rescued overnight as officers and emergency responders continued to respond to distress calls from residents trapped by the rising water.
Residents described scenes of destruction as rivers overflowed their banks and swept through neighbourhoods.
“The river banks broke as the rains continued and cars were swept off and water flowed into our shops, destroying property for many people,” said Frederick Wasonga, a trader who sells car accessories in the city centre.
Another resident, Derrick Juma, who works as a panel beater in the same area, said two of his neighbours died during the flooding.
“One person was electrocuted,” he said. “Another one was heavily rained on and while trying to take cover outside a restaurant, he died out in the cold.”
The Kenya Red Cross Society said the floods caused widespread destruction in the capital and other parts of the country.
“We are seeing devastation. A huge number of areas in the city were affected, but also counties all over the country,” said Red Cross spokesman Munir Ahmed.
In response to the disaster, William Ruto, the President of Kenya, said he had directed emergency teams to coordinate rescue and relief efforts.
“We recognise that these floods once again highlight the urgent need for lasting solutions to the perennial challenge of flooding in our urban areas,” Ruto wrote in a statement shared on social media.
The disaster has also triggered public anger toward Johnson Sakaja, the Governor of Nairobi, who had previously promised to improve the city’s drainage system and road infrastructure after taking office in 2022.
Activist Nelson Amenya criticised the city administration, saying poor drainage and lack of proper flood management worsened the situation.
“There’s no storm water drainage system. I haven’t seen any active flood management or preparation for it by the county of Nairobi,” he said.
Heavy rainfall also disrupted air travel. Kenya Airways confirmed that several flights were diverted from Nairobi to Mombasa due to the severe weather conditions.
The Red Cross said hundreds of households in neighbouring counties had also been affected, with large areas of farmland destroyed by the flooding.
Experts say extreme weather patterns have become more frequent across East Africa in recent years, with both severe droughts and heavy rains affecting countries such as Somalia and Ethiopia.
Authorities warned that more rain could fall in the coming days, raising fears that the death toll and damage could increase as rescue byefforts continue.
