23 people have been confirmed dead after days of heavy rainfall triggered widespread flooding across Nairobi, authorities have said, as rescue teams continue to search for survivors and assist displaced residents.
The torrential rains, which began earlier in the week, overwhelmed drainage systems in several parts of the Kenyan capital, submerging homes, sweeping away vehicles and forcing thousands of residents to flee to safer ground. Local officials said the death toll could rise as emergency services continue to comb through flooded neighbourhoods and debris.
According to the Kenya Red Cross Society, many of the victims were caught in fast-moving floodwaters after rivers burst their banks and informal settlements located near waterways were inundated. Rescue workers have been deployed across affected communities to evacuate residents stranded in their homes and provide emergency assistance.
Several low-lying areas of the city were among the worst affected. Floodwaters swept through residential districts, destroying property and leaving families without shelter. In some neighbourhoods, residents were forced to climb onto rooftops or seek refuge on higher ground as water levels rose rapidly overnight.
Officials in Kenya said emergency teams had been mobilised to assist affected communities while efforts were underway to clear blocked drainage channels and restore normal movement in the city.
Hospitals in the capital have also been placed on alert to treat injured residents, while humanitarian organisations are providing food, clean water and temporary shelter to families displaced by the disaster.
Government authorities have urged residents living in flood-prone areas to relocate temporarily as meteorological agencies warn that more rainfall could fall in the coming days. Weather experts say the current downpours are part of the region’s seasonal rains, which have become increasingly intense in recent years due to changing climate patterns.
The flooding has also disrupted transport and economic activity in Nairobi, with several major roads rendered impassable. Public transport services were halted in some areas while schools and businesses closed temporarily due to safety concerns.
Community volunteers and rescue workers have been working around the clock to reach trapped residents, often using boats and improvised rafts to navigate flooded streets.
The Kenya Red Cross Society said many families have lost their homes and belongings, calling for urgent humanitarian support to assist victims as they begin to recover from the disaster.
Authorities say a full assessment of the damage is still ongoing, but early reports indicate that hundreds of homes have been destroyed or severely damaged by the floodwaters.
As rescue operations continue, officials are urging residents to remain vigilant, avoid flooded areas and follow safety directives from emergency responders while the city grapples with the aftermath of one of its deadliest flooding incidents in recent months.
