Seven people have died in Nairobi due to continuous heavy rains that have caused widespread flooding and displacement. Among the first victims were a 23-year-old mother and her two children in Drive-In, Ruaraka, whose home was engulfed by floodwaters. In Mukuru Kwa Reuben slum, another person was swept away, displacing over 500 residents.
Additional fatalities were reported in South B and along Jogoo Road, while in Mathare 4A, a boulder collapsed on a home, killing one person. Nairobi police said the structure was weakened by an overflowing river.
Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku confirmed 55 households in Ruaraka were affected, with nearly 200 people displaced. The disaster has highlighted the capital’s poor drainage infrastructure and sparked criticism of government response.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the city’s systems were overwhelmed by unprecedented rainfall. He called for the release of the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund, arguing that counties like Nairobi are unfairly underfunded despite managing most of the road network.
Sakaja pointed to his administration’s deployment of 3,800 youth — the “Green Army” — to clear drains and remove garbage, but noted more resources are needed.
CS Ruku announced an upcoming multi-agency meeting to develop immediate flood response strategies and pledged government support for affected families, including emergency supplies and long-term mitigation plans.
