Peter Mwamgi reports from outside Nairobi
Drivers across Nairobi were stranded for hours on Saturday after heavy rains overnight flooded roads and disrupted traffic across the Kenyan capital.
The downpour, which began late Friday and continued through the night, left several parts of Nairobi submerged. Vehicles were partially underwater in some neighborhoods, while drivers and passengers were forced to abandon their cars and wade through hip-deep water to reach higher ground.
Authorities deployed a rescue unit from the Kenya Defence Forces to assist overstretched emergency teams. Volunteers from the Kenya Red Cross had difficulty accessing some affected areas as floodwaters blocked roads and slowed response times.
To ease congestion and provide an alternative route for stranded commuters, the operator of the city’s elevated toll highway temporarily waived fees along the Nairobi Expressway.
Kenya has been experiencing heavy rainfall since late February, marking the beginning of the country’s “long rains” season, which typically runs from March to May. The seasonal rains are vital for agriculture but often bring flooding, especially in urban areas where drainage systems struggle to handle sudden downpours.
Flooding during previous rainy seasons has caused widespread damage. In recent years, heavy rains across Kenya have triggered landslides and flash floods that killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands, particularly in low-lying settlements and rural regions.
Climate scientists say extreme rainfall events in East Africa are becoming more frequent and intense, partly due to changing climate patterns and rapid urban growth that has increased pressure on drainage and infrastructure in cities like Nairobi.
Emergency officials urged residents in flood-prone areas to remain cautious as more rainfall is forecast in the coming days.
