NAIROBI, Kenya — The death toll from torrential rains and flash floods that ripped through Nairobi and other parts of Kenya has nearly doubled to 42, the government said late Sunday, as military-led teams combed submerged neighborhoods and riverbanks for the missing.
Intense downpours on Friday swamped roads, swept away vehicles and inundated homes and workshops in low-lying districts, including the Grogan area of downtown Nairobi, a hub for auto garages and spare parts traders. Floodwaters also disrupted traffic at the country’s largest airport, straining emergency services as creeks and drains overflowed.
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Officials warned of extensive damage to roads, bridges and livelihoods across multiple counties and appealed for patience as rescue and recovery operations continued into the week.
“Search mission is still in progress by the multi agency emergency response teams with the aim of ensuring that bodies of all the flood victims are found and retrieved,” Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, the minister for Public Service and Human Capital Development, said in a statement announcing the updated death toll.
President William Ruto on Saturday ordered the immediate release of relief food from national strategic reserves for families displaced or cut off by high water, directing county and national agencies to coordinate distributions as access roads reopen.
Authorities said 172 vehicles swept away by floodwaters have been recovered, a measure of the ferocity of the current that barreled through city streets and peri-urban settlements. Emergency crews reported pockets of residents stranded on rooftops and in marooned compounds over the weekend as rivers burst their banks.
Key developments:
- Confirmed deaths rose to 42 from 23 following late Sunday assessments, according to the government.
- Flooding followed intense, widespread rains on Friday that also disrupted operations around the country’s main international airport.
- Multi-agency teams, including the military, continued search and rescue and recovery operations across affected regions.
- At least 172 vehicles were retrieved after being washed away by floodwaters, underscoring the scale of the deluge.
- President Ruto ordered relief food released from strategic reserves for immediate distribution to affected families.
Humanitarian groups and local authorities are racing to establish safe shelters and restore basic services. Public health agencies urged caution around open drains and stagnant water to reduce the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks in the aftermath of the flooding.
Scientists say a warming climate is intensifying rainfall extremes across East Africa by packing more moisture into shorter, heavier bursts. A 2024 World Weather Attribution study found that climate change has roughly doubled the likelihood of devastating rains in the region, a trend that compounds the vulnerability of fast-growing urban areas with limited drainage and informal housing.
In Nairobi, traders in the Grogan industrial strip counted losses after torrents tore through workshops and parts yards, scattering inventory and soaking equipment. City engineers and national highway authorities reported damage assessments were underway to prioritize emergency repairs and clear blocked corridors.
Officials did not provide a figure for the number of people still missing. Rescue teams said their immediate focus was on life-saving operations, followed by body recovery and infrastructure clearance as waters recede.
With more seasonal rainfall possible, authorities urged residents near rivers and on floodplains to heed evacuation advisories and avoid crossing swollen waterways. Motorists were advised to keep off submerged roads and follow guidance from traffic police and county disaster units.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
