NAIROBI, Kenya — At least 10 people have been confirmed dead after devastating floods swept through Nairobi on Friday following heavy rains that submerged several neighbourhoods and paralysed major roads across the city.
George Seda, the Nairobi Police Commander, said eight of the victims were swept away by fast-rising floodwaters, with some dying while inside vehicles that were carried away by the raging currents.
Two other victims died in separate electrocution incidents during the floods in different parts of the county.
Seda warned that the death toll could rise as search and rescue operations continue in areas heavily affected by the flooding.
Vehicles trapped, roads impassable
Police said at least 71 vehicles were trapped or stranded after major roads across the city became impassable due to rising waters.
Residents woke up Saturday to flooded neighbourhoods, stranded motorists, and widespread transport disruption following the overnight downpour.
According to Ahmed Idris, Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross Society, several residential estates and informal settlements were severely affected as floodwaters surged through low-lying areas and river corridors.
Among the hardest-hit areas were Pipeline and Embakasi, where sections of Kware Road were completely cut off by floodwaters.
Other affected neighbourhoods included Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Reuben, Viwandani, Kibra, Mathare, Huruma, Baba Dogo, and Bosnia.
Flooding was also reported in South B, South C, Nairobi West, Lang’ata, Umoja 3, Chokaa, Njiru, Ruai and Utawala, as well as Roysambu, Kahawa West, Githurai, Loresho, and parts of Westlands.
Major highways affected
Key transport corridors across the city experienced severe disruption overnight.
The Kenya Red Cross Society reported that heavy traffic snarl-ups stretched into the early hours of Saturday as motorists struggled to navigate flooded sections.
Affected routes included roads around the central business district, such as Museum Hill, Uhuru Park and Uhuru Highway, as well as Mbagathi Way.
Floodwaters also disrupted traffic along Mombasa Road near South C, Bellevue, and the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport exit, and at Kyumbi junction.
On Thika Superhighway, motorists reported difficult driving conditions around Githurai, Kahawa Sukari and Kenyatta Road.
Other severely flooded roads included Jogoo Road, Enterprise Road, Lang’ata Road near T-Mall, Riverside Drive, Limuru Road, Lunga Lunga Road, Kabete, and Kawangware.
Rescue operations underway
Emergency response teams, including the military, were deployed overnight to assist stranded residents and restore mobility.
The Kenya Red Cross Society said its first responders rescued at least 20 people stranded along Kirinyaga Road after floodwaters overwhelmed the area.
A military Rapid Response Unit was also deployed to assist with traffic control and recovery operations. The team towed five vehicles that had stalled at the Kariokor–Ring Road roundabout due to swelling of the Nairobi River.
Additional traffic management was set up at Mbagathi Roundabout, another area severely affected by flooding.
More rain expected
The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that intense rainfall is expected to continue across much of the country, raising the risk of further flooding, swollen rivers, and transport disruption.
In response, Geoffrey Ruku, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, announced that the government will hold an emergency coordination meeting on Saturday involving key disaster response agencies.
The meeting will bring together the National Police Service, National Youth Service, St John Ambulance Kenya, the National Disaster Management Unit, the National Disaster Operations Centre, and the National Drought Management Authority.
Authorities say the session will focus on strengthening coordination and accelerating response efforts as Kenya braces for continued heavy rainfall.
