Four more people have died in Kenya due to widespread flooding caused by heavy rainfall over the past week, police reported, bringing the total death toll to at least 66. The capital, Nairobi, experienced further heavy rain overnight, though no new fatalities were recorded.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, eleven individuals were rescued after a minibus taxi, locally known as a matatu, became trapped by rising waters in Nairobi, while two children were saved from a flooded house. The persistent heavy rainfall has triggered flash floods, with rivers overflowing their banks, inundating homes, and damaging roads, power lines, and water infrastructure.
In Nairobi, some roads have been closed due to damaged bridges, and several schools were flooded following Saturday's downpour. The Interior Ministry warned on Sunday that various parts of the country continue to face heavy rains, heightening the risk of further flooding. Authorities have urged residents in low-lying areas to relocate to safer ground, with over 2,000 people forced to abandon their homes to seek shelter.
Police stated that search-and-rescue operations are ongoing in response to what they described as "torrential rain and subsequent devastating flooding affecting various parts of the country." Half of the fatalities—33 people—occurred in Nairobi, where poor drainage systems and obstruction of rivers and waterways from unregulated development have been significant contributing factors.
Businessman Kareem Hassan Ali, a resident of Nairobi's Parklands area, told the BBC that approximately two meters (6.5 feet) of water accumulated outside his apartment block on Saturday night, though levels have since receded. While his flat remained dry, cars in the underground parking area were submerged.
Another Parklands resident, auditor Deenesh Patel, recounted spending the night at a friend's house, stating, "I saw the warning and didn't want to take any risks." Both men called on officials to enhance drainage infrastructure and halt construction that blocks natural watercourses. Patel noted, "The rain was heavy, but this happens each year. Other low-lying areas were not affected because they have the proper infrastructure."
President William Ruto announced on Sunday that authorities are working to clear blocked drainage systems, but Ali claimed no such efforts were visible in Parklands, with residents' associations taking cleanup into their own hands. Ruto also said emergency food supplies and medical assistance are being delivered to those affected by the floods.
The flooding has extended beyond Kenya's borders. In neighboring Ethiopia, more than 100 people have been killed by floods and landslides in the southern region. While multiple factors contribute to flooding, a warming atmosphere driven by climate change increases the likelihood of extreme rainfall events.
Global temperatures have already risen by about 1.1°C since the industrial era began, and they will continue to climb unless governments worldwide implement steep cuts in emissions.
Source: www.bbc.com