With relentless rains lashing Kenya, flooding has begun to grip various parts of Nairobi, making roads nearly impassable and endangering lives and property. Streets and estates are swamped, causing havoc for both motorists and commuters.
While drivers suffer losses due to vehicles being damaged by floodwaters, mechanics are seeing a boom in business. Mark Kirui, a 43-year-old Nairobi resident, had his car stall in Embakasi on Monday after floodwaters overwhelmed it as he attempted to navigate stagnant water.
The downpour also brought public transport to a halt, leaving over 130 passengers stranded at Nairobi’s Central Railway Station when floods blocked the train route to Syokimau SGR station. Though management arranged for buses, many commuters were left waiting past 9:15 pm with little communication about the buses’ whereabouts.
The situation is even more severe in informal settlements, where flash floods pose a deadly threat. Many slum dwellers live precariously close to the Nairobi River, which has a history of flooding and destruction during heavy rains. Last year’s prolonged rains claimed lives and damaged homes after the river—clogged with waste—overflowed.
Despite the dangers, many residents refuse to leave. In Mathare, locals criticize calls for relocation as lacking proper planning. One long-time resident, a 53-year-old woman identified only as WKW, said, “I know heavy rains can be deadly. But where do you expect me to go? This is where my children call home. I’d rather die here.”
Meteorologists are warning that the rains may intensify. The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center (ICPAC) projects heavier-than-normal rainfall across Kenya and neighboring countries, with levels similar to 2024. Rainfall between 50 and 200mm is expected in multiple areas, with risks of flooding in low-lying regions, particularly in northeastern Kenya, Tanzania, and parts of Uganda and Ethiopia.
