By the 254.ke Newsroom. Updated Thursday, 5 November 2026.
The earth tremor felt in parts of Nairobi, Kiambu, Murang’a and Kajiado on Thursday afternoon came from a magnitude 5.1 earthquake in north-western Tanzania, roughly 1,000 kilometres away, according to international seismic monitors. No injuries or damage had been reported in Kenya by the time of publication.
The quake struck at 09:22 UTC, which is 12:22pm East Africa Time. Residents in Kenya reported feeling shaking at about 12:27pm, when the waves reached the capital region.
What caused the Nairobi tremor today?
The source was an earthquake near Isungabula in Tanzania’s Geita region, in the Lake Victoria zone, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS) data republished by QuakeMap24. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) placed it east of the town of Ushirombo. The USGS, EMSC and Geoscience Australia each gave a magnitude of 5.1 at a depth of 10 kilometres, while Germany’s GFZ listed 5.2.
Early reports carried a higher figure. EMSC’s first, preliminary estimate was magnitude 5.6, and several news outlets used it in their headlines before it was revised down. Preliminary numbers routinely shift in the first hours after an event as more stations report in.
Key facts at a glance
| Detail | What is known |
|---|---|
| Origin time | 09:22 UTC (12:22pm EAT), 5 November 2026 |
| Felt in Kenya | About 12:27pm EAT |
| Magnitude | 5.1 (USGS, EMSC); 5.2 (GFZ); first estimate 5.6 (EMSC, preliminary) |
| Depth | About 10 km |
| Epicentre | Near Isungabula, Geita region, north-western Tanzania |
| Distance from Nairobi | About 986 km, per Kenyans.co.ke |
| Damage or injuries | None reported in Kenya |
Where was the tremor felt?
Residents in Nairobi, Kiambu, Murang’a and Kajiado reported ground shaking on social media. Individual accounts named Tassia and Pipeline in Embakasi, Kitengela, Athi River, Westgate and Kisii; those claims were unconfirmed. Preliminary alerts also described light to weak shaking in Kigali, Bujumbura and Kampala. The USGS “Did You Feel It?” tool had logged 15 felt reports with a maximum reported intensity of 5.3 when QuakeMap24 last updated.
Mjengo Hub reported that publicly accessible monitoring information it checked had not initially matched a confirmed event to the reported time, an indication of how quickly the picture changed through the afternoon. Kenyans.co.ke and K24 later cited EMSC’s figures.
Has the Kenya Meteorological Department commented?
No statement from the Kenya Meteorological Department on this event had been found at the time of writing. The department issued one in May 2025, when it said shaking in Nairobi came from a magnitude 4.5 earthquake in northern Tanzania. This newsroom will update the article if an official statement is released.
What should you do if you feel a tremor?
Guidance carried by Mjengo Hub is the standard advice: move away from windows and objects that could fall, shelter under sturdy furniture, and avoid rushing outside while the shaking continues. Anyone who notices new cracks or displacement in a building should have it assessed by a professional. For background on how earthquakes are measured and reported, see the US Geological Survey.
Frequently asked questions
Was there an earthquake in Nairobi today?
Not under Nairobi. The earthquake was in north-western Tanzania; its waves were felt in parts of Nairobi and nearby counties.
What was the magnitude?
Instrument-based figures from the USGS and EMSC are 5.1, with GFZ at 5.2. The 5.6 figure that circulated early was a preliminary EMSC estimate.
Is there any damage in Kenya?
None had been reported at the time of publication.
Could there be aftershocks?
Aftershocks are possible after any earthquake of this size, but at this distance they would be unlikely to be felt in Kenya. Monitoring agencies publish updates on their own sites.
Related reading from 254.ke: Kenya rain forecast for 3-9 November and Kenya’s Ebola outbreak contact tracing.
Sources: EMSC and USGS data as reported by Kenyans.co.ke, K24 Digital, Mwakilishi, Mjengo Hub and QuakeMap24.
