Floodwaters Claim Lives in Mathare and Mukuru as Nairobi Grapples with Heavy Rainfall

Heavy rains sweeping across Kenya this week have led to tragic consequences, with Nairobi and Narok County bearing the brunt of the devastation. 

The downpours have claimed multiple lives, displaced hundreds, and exposed critical vulnerabilities in both urban and rural communities.

In Nairobi, at least six fatalities were reported following a night of intense rainfall. The most harrowing incident occurred in the Mathare 4a informal settlement on Monday night, where a weakened boulder, destabilised by floodwaters, collapsed onto a residential structure. The collapse resulted in the deaths of a mother and her two children as they slept. Nairobi police commander George Sedah confirmed that the force of the boulder was exacerbated by compromised soil stability due to the overflowing river. 

The victims' home was crushed and inundated with water, leaving no chance for survival. Local authorities swiftly initiated search-and-rescue operations to locate any individuals potentially swept downstream by the floodwaters. Precautionary evacuations were also conducted in nearby areas at risk of collapse. Officials have issued urgent warnings about the ongoing rains, emphasising the need for heightened vigilance in flood-prone areas.

Additional tragedies unfolded elsewhere in the city. In the Mukuru Kwa Reuben slum, a resident was swept away by floodwaters, resulting in another fatality and displacing over 500 individuals. Rescue teams recovered two more bodies from floodwaters: one in the Ngong River near South B’s Likoni Bridge and another along Jogoo Road. Residents of Mukuru slum have expressed frustration over unfulfilled promises from authorities regarding flood mitigation measures, despite previous flood-related devastation.

The Nairobi County government has mobilised response teams to mitigate the damage caused by the flooding. Efforts are focused on unclogging blocked drainage systems and providing relief to those affected. The Kenya Meteorological Department has reiterated the urgency of these measures, forecasting continued thunderstorms and showers across much of the country for the remainder of the week.

In Narok County, torrential downpours have triggered flash floods and lightning strikes, exacerbating the region's misfortunes. In the Sakutiek area of Narok Central subcounty, two people lost their lives while attempting to cross a swollen seasonal river. Police, with the assistance of local residents, recovered their bodies. Authorities have issued warnings, emphasising the dangers of traversing flooded areas during the rainy season.

Lightning strikes in Mararianta village, Narok West, resulted in the deaths of eight cows. The animals, seeking shelter from the rain under a tree, were struck during the storm. The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center (ICPAC) has cautioned that heavy rainfall is expected to persist across Kenya and neighbouring nations within the Greater Horn of Africa. Weather experts project precipitation levels ranging between 50 to 200 millimetres in affected regions, with coastal Kenya and northeastern areas facing heightened flooding risks. 

ICPAC has urged communities in low-lying areas to remain vigilant, emphasising the destructive potential of intensified rains. As rivers reach full capacity and flooding displaces families, local leaders have stressed the importance of proactive disaster preparedness and mitigation. Rescue and relief operations continue to focus on assisting victims and addressing clogged waterways to avert further calamities.