At Least 23 Dead as Flash Floods Submerge Kenyan Capital Nairobi

Nairobi. Police on Saturday confirmed that at least 23 people have died in flash floods triggered by heavy overnight rain in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with significant damage reported across many parts of the city.

The torrential downpour on Friday night turned major city roads into rivers, submerging thousands of homes and businesses.

Rescue teams continued on Saturday to pull stranded residents to safety and recover bodies. Major damage to roads and infrastructure was visible, spanning from informal settlements to affluent areas of the city.

According to Munir Ahmed, spokesperson for the Kenya Red Cross, many areas of the city have been affected, and other districts across the country have also experienced impacts.

Police stated that at least 29 people were rescued overnight, and search and rescue efforts are continuing in immediate response to emergency calls.

Various studies indicate that the frequency of extreme rainfall and drought has been increasing in East Africa over the last 20 years.

Last month, reports emerged of a large number of livestock dying due to drought in Mandera County, in Kenya's northeastern region.

Following the heavy rains, criticism has also mounted on social media against Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who had promised to improve the city's drainage and road infrastructure when he took office in 2022.

Meanwhile, the national flag carrier airline reported that some flights had to be diverted to the coastal city of Mombasa due to the rain.

According to the Kenya Red Cross, hundreds of families in neighboring districts have also been affected, and large tracts of arable land have been destroyed.