NAIROBI, Kenya — The Undugu Society of Kenya has issued a stark warning following the deaths of at least 25 people in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya due to heavy rains and flooding, calling for urgent reforms in urban planning and disaster preparedness.
In a statement released on Saturday, March 7, the society expressed grief over the discovery of bodies in cars, alleys, and drainage culverts, highlighting the human toll of urban floods.
“Behind every disaster are human lives, families, and communities now facing unimaginable grief,” said Executive Director Eric Mukoya.
The NGO emphasised that the tragedy exposes the extreme vulnerability of people living on the streets and those without secure housing, who often lack access to shelters, early warning systems, or emergency support services.
“Their lives are too often overlooked in emergency planning, yet they are among the first to suffer its consequences,” the statement said.
Undugu Society noted that recurring urban floods reflect deeper structural challenges in Kenya’s cities, including governance failures, weak infrastructure, and inadequate climate adaptation measures.
Rapid urban expansion has frequently encroached on natural ecosystems such as rivers, wetlands, and drainage channels, disrupting their ability to absorb and direct excess water during heavy rains.
“These planning failures have immediate and severe consequences for people living without secure housing. Without safe shelter or access to emergency protection, they are often the first to be displaced, injured, or lose their lives when disasters strike,” the statement read.
The society stressed that climate-related disasters are not solely environmental crises but also social justice and human rights issues that disproportionately affect marginalized populations.
The Constitution of Kenya guarantees the rights to life, dignity, housing, livelihood, and a clean and healthy environment, and these obligations must inform urban development.
Undugu Society called on national and county governments to urgently strengthen accountability in urban planning and disaster preparedness. Recommendations included:
- Prioritising climate-resilient, rights-based development.
- Protecting river corridors and wetlands from encroachment.
- Improving drainage systems to mitigate flooding.
- Establishing emergency response mechanisms that include safe shelters and targeted support for people experiencing homelessness.
“Our cities must be designed to protect human life. No one should lose their life simply because they had nowhere safe to shelter from the rain,” said Mukoya.
The statement underscores the need for proactive and inclusive urban governance, particularly in the face of increasingly intense climate events.
As Kenya continues to experience heavy rains, the society warned that without urgent reforms, vulnerable communities will continue to bear the brunt of preventable disasters.
