NAIROBI, Kenya — Traffic chaos gripped Nairobi on Friday night after heavy rains flooded several major roads across the capital, marooning vehicles in rising water and forcing the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to assist in rescue operations.
Motorists and passengers were stranded for hours as floodwaters overwhelmed key roads, with videos circulating online showing vehicles partially submerged and commuters abandoning their cars over safety concerns.
In some locations, drivers were trapped inside vehicles as water levels rose rapidly, prompting emergency teams and KDF personnel to intervene overnight and evacuate motorists and passengers from flooded sections of the city.
The heavy rainfall pounded the capital late Friday, leaving several roads impassable and disrupting transport networks across multiple neighbourhoods.
Public service vehicles were also affected, with many unable to operate on certain routes due to rising water levels. Pedestrians were forced to wade through knee-deep water in some areas as streets turned into streams.
Reports also emerged that some hotels in the city experienced flooding after water seeped into basements and underground parking areas, temporarily trapping guests inside buildings.
The dramatic scenes have once again exposed the vulnerability of Nairobi’s ageing drainage infrastructure and dysfunctional sewer systems, which residents say frequently fail during intense rainfall.
Urban planners note that much of Nairobi’s drainage and sewer network was constructed decades ago when the city’s population and built-up areas were significantly smaller, leaving the system unable to cope with the volume of stormwater generated by modern urban expansion.
Rapid urbanisation, illegal construction on riparian land and the dumping of waste into drainage channels have further worsened the problem by blocking stormwater systems and sewer lines.
When heavy rains fall, blocked drainage channels prevent water from flowing away quickly, causing it to accumulate on roads and in low-lying estates.
The situation is also aggravated by ageing sewer infrastructure, where overloaded sewer lines sometimes mix with stormwater during heavy rainfall, increasing the risk of flooding.
Johnson Sakaja, the Governor of Nairobi, has previously acknowledged that the city’s drainage infrastructure was not designed to withstand modern rainfall patterns.
“Our drainage infrastructure was not designed to handle heavy, prolonged rainfall,” Sakaja said in an earlier statement.
The downpour followed warnings from the Kenya Meteorological Department that rainfall would intensify in early March, raising the risk of flooding in several parts of the capital.
Weather alerts had indicated widespread heavy rain in areas including Westlands, Dagoretti, Roysambu, Kibra, Embakasi, Makadara, Kamukunji, Lang’ata, Kasarani and Mathare, with localized rainfall expected to exceed 70 millimetres in some locations.
Authorities have advised motorists and pedestrians to avoid attempting to cross flooded roads and to remain cautious as the rains continue.
Flooding linked to heavy rains has repeatedly turned deadly in Nairobi and other parts of the country, highlighting the risks posed by blocked drainage systems and weak urban infrastructure.
In April 2025, at least six people died in Nairobi after overnight flash floods swept through parts of the city.
During the devastating 2024 rainy season, floods across Kenya killed several people, with Nairobi among the hardest-hit regions as rivers burst their banks and thousands of residents were displaced.
City officials later confirmed that at least 39 people died in Nairobi during the 2024 floods, with tens of thousands of households affected.
Residents and road users are now urging authorities to prioritise the rehabilitation and expansion of the capital’s stormwater drainage systems to prevent future disasters.
