NAIROBI – At least 23 people have died after heavy overnight rains triggered severe flash flooding in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, authorities said on Saturday.
Emergency workers recovered bodies from floodwaters across several parts of the city after torrents of water swept through streets, carrying away dozens of vehicles and leaving many neighborhoods submerged. Police said around 30 people had been rescued, though others were reportedly swept into rivers or electrocuted after power lines were damaged.
Kenyan President William Ruto said emergency response teams, including units from the Kenya Defence Forces, had been deployed to assist rescue operations in affected areas. He also expressed condolences to families of the victims and ordered the release of food supplies from national reserves to support those displaced by the floods.
Authorities said the intense rainfall caused the Nairobi River to burst its banks, flooding several districts including the industrial area of Grogan. Security guard John Lomayan described seeing an elderly roadside egg vendor swept away by rising waters. The man’s body was later found trapped beneath a vehicle that had been carried by the flood.
Witnesses reported that dozens of vehicles were swept away as fast-moving water surged through the city, while several bodies were pulled from beneath damaged cars. Bus driver John Mwai said he used his vehicle to help move residents to higher ground during the flooding.
The flooding also disrupted transportation across the city. Major roads including Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway, Kirinyaga Road, and parts of the Westlands district were submerged, bringing traffic to a standstill. Police said at least 71 vehicles were washed away or severely damaged.
Air travel was also affected after the severe weather disrupted flights at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, East Africa’s busiest aviation hub. National carrier Kenya Airways said some flights bound for Nairobi were cancelled or diverted to the coastal city of Mombasa.
The floods damaged electrical infrastructure as well. State utility Kenya Power said equipment at a power substation was affected, leaving at least 14 neighborhoods without electricity.
The Kenya Meteorological Department had earlier warned of heavy rainfall across Nairobi and surrounding counties, forecasting between 30 and 70 millimetres of rain in the capital. Authorities cautioned residents to avoid flooded streets and drainage channels as emergency teams continued rescue efforts.
Meteorologists have also warned that river levels could continue to rise in the coming days, with Nairobi and other regions including the Central Highlands, the Lake Victoria Basin, and coastal areas remaining on high alert for further heavy rainfall.
