Flood death toll in Kenya rises to 42 after heavy rains

At least 42 people have died after heavy rains triggered widespread flooding in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya, authorities said on Sunday, as emergency crews continued search and rescue operations.

The floods followed intense rainfall that began on Friday, submerging roads, sweeping away vehicles and disrupting transport across several regions of the country. Floodwaters also caused temporary disruption to traffic around Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya’s busiest airport.

Government officials said the death toll had nearly doubled as rescue teams located more victims in affected areas.

Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for public service and human capital development, said multi-agency emergency teams, including the military, remained deployed across the country to locate victims and assist affected communities.

“Search mission is still in progress by the multi agency emergency ​response teams with the aim of ensuring that ​bodies of all the flood victims are found and retrieved,” he said in a statement.

Beyond the loss of life, the floods have also caused extensive damage to infrastructure and livelihoods. Authorities said at least 172 vehicles that had been swept away by floodwaters have since been recovered, highlighting the scale of the destruction caused by the sudden deluge.

The flooding has forced many residents from their homes while leaving roads and key transport routes impassable in some areas.

President William Ruto said on Saturday that the government had ordered the immediate release of relief food supplies from the country’s national strategic reserves to support families affected by the disaster.

Emergency agencies are also assessing damage and providing assistance to displaced residents as rainfall continues in parts of the country.

Scientists say extreme weather events in East Africa have become more frequent and severe in recent years, partly due to climate change. Researchers say global warming is intensifying the region’s rainfall patterns, leading to shorter but more intense storms that increase the risk of flooding.

A 2024 study by the World Weather Attribution found that climate change has made extreme rainfall events in East Africa roughly twice as likely as in the past.

Authorities said rescue operations and damage assessments would continue in the coming days as communities work to recover from the flooding.