At least 23 people have died in Nairobi following overnight flash floods that swept through low-lying parts of the city, authorities said on Saturday. Dozens of vehicles were washed away, homes and businesses were submerged, and flights at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport were disrupted.
Kenyan President William Ruto deployed emergency responders, including soldiers, to coordinate rescue operations and ordered immediate distribution of relief food from national reserves to affected families.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as residents struggled to escape the surging waters of the Nairobi River. Security guard John Lomayan recounted seeing an elderly roadside vendor swept away beneath a car, while bus driver John Mwai converted his bus into a rescue vehicle to move people to higher ground. Some victims were electrocuted by damaged power lines, and national electricity provider Kenya Power reported outages in 14 neighborhoods.
Authorities said 71 vehicles were swept away and drainage systems were overwhelmed, leaving roads impassable and severely disrupting transport and commerce. Kenya Airways diverted some flights to Mombasa due to flooding at Nairobi’s airport.
Public Service and Special Programs Minister Geoffrey Ruku convened an emergency meeting to coordinate relief efforts, while technicians worked to restore electricity and monitor rivers and drainage channels as rainfall continues.
Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying extreme weather events in East Africa, concentrating rainfall into shorter, more destructive bursts. A 2024 World Weather Attribution study found such devastating rains have become twice as likely due to global warming.
Source: TRT Africa
