Nairobi, Kenya- If you were trying to get home in Nairobi on Sunday evening, chances are your shoes—or your car tires—got a soaking.
A sudden, intense downpour turned major city streets into fast-flowing channels, forcing both pedestrians and motorists to wade through knee-high water under howling winds.
The chaotic scene played out across the capital as Kenya’s long rains season took a turbulent turn.
And just in case you missed the memo: the Kenya Meteorological Department had already warned us about this.
A City Submerged: Cars Stalled, Shops Closed
What started as a cloudy evening quickly escalated into a storm of chaos. On many Streets, several vehicles stalled mid-commute, their engines drowned by rising floodwaters. Motorists were trapped in their cars, unsure whether to push through or wait it out. Some chose to abandon their vehicles altogether.
Elsewhere, the story was the same: Parklands, Westlands, and CBD streets became a waterlogged maze.
Business owners shut down early, shuttering shops as the storm threatened to sweep away the evening’s earnings.
For Nairobians, the rain wasn’t just a nuisance—it was a reminder of just how vulnerable city infrastructure remains when the skies open up.
Meteorological Department Warned Us—And They’re Not Done Yet
This may feel sudden, but the Met Department says the rain—and the unpredictability—was expected. In its May 5 advisory, the department cautioned Kenyans to prepare for scattered but intense rains, temperature extremes, and potential flash floods.
Their latest forecast for May 6–12 highlights that regions including the Central Highlands, Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, Western, and the Coast are in for intermittent heavy rainfall.
But it’s not just about the rain. While Nairobi gets soaked, coastal counties are sweltering with daytime highs pushing past 30°C. Meanwhile, parts of the Central Highlands and areas near Mt. Kilimanjaro are bracing for nighttime lows below 10°C. It’s a weather rollercoaster—hot, wet, cold, and completely unpredictable.
Living With Uncertainty: Time to Stay Alert
Kenya is deep in the heart of the March–April–May long rains season. But this year, like the last, patterns have shifted. Rainfall has been sporadic, heavy in some places and barely a drizzle in others.
That’s what makes it dangerous—there’s little time to prepare when a sunny morning turns into a flooded evening.
The Meteorological Department continues to stress the importance of weather preparedness. “Communities should remain alert, especially in areas prone to flash floods or temperature-sensitive livelihoods,” the agency warned in its update.
For Nairobi’s commuters and residents, that might mean checking forecasts twice, avoiding flood-prone roads, and investing in a good umbrella—or maybe even a pair of waterproof boots.
Final Thoughts: Weatherproof Your Day
This isn’t just about puddles and traffic jams. With climate change amplifying unpredictable weather, Nairobi’s Sunday storm was more than just a one-off inconvenience.
It was a loud, wet signal that Kenya’s urban planning and climate resilience have some catching up to do.
Whether you’re a farmer waiting for rain, a shopkeeper trying to keep the lights on, or just someone trying to get home without swimming, one thing’s clear: the skies aren’t done with us yet.
