10 Dead, Roads submerged as floods wreak havoc in Kenyan capital

Storms and flash floods transformed roads into rushing rivers and flooded homes with waist-high muddy water throughout the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Wednesday, leading to the death of at least 10 people.

The East Africa region has experienced continuous heavy rainfall in recent weeks, with the El Nino weather pattern worsening the usual rainy season.

In Nairobi, vehicles got stuck in the floodwaters, and residents in slum areas had to wade through the floods to find safety.

"The number of bodies recovered so far is 10, and we have other people who are missing," said Fred Abuga, a local police commander, to AFP.

According to the Nairobi county governor's office, about 60,000 individuals, primarily women and children, have been significantly impacted by the floods.

The Kenya Met Department issued a warning of "heavy to very heavy" rainfall expected in various parts of the country until May.

In one incident on Wednesday, police used tear gas to disperse angry residents who had blocked a major highway with long lines of cars, demanding government action against the floods.

Kenya Railways announced a temporary suspension of commuter train services, and the roads authority stated that four roads in the capital had been partially closed.

"The city is at a standstill because most roads are flooded," reported Uber driver Kelvin Mwangi.

"We are having to take longer routes, and sometimes we can't reach our destination."

Homes were submerged in the sprawling Nairobi slum of Mathare, forcing residents to seek refuge on rooftops to save themselves and their belongings.

The Kenya Red Cross reported rescuing 18 people, including seven children, who were stranded in Mathare. They shared a picture on X showing their workers, some standing in waist-high water, involved in rescue operations, while a man carried a young child on his shoulder.

In a dramatic rescue on Tuesday, Kenyan police announced saving a five-year-old boy stranded alone by floods in Machakos County southeast of the capital.

Roads became rushing rivers, and homes were flooded with muddy waters as rainstorms and flash floods wreaked havoc throughout the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Wednesday.

Various parts of the country and the East Africa region have endured continuous rains in recent weeks, with the El Nino weather pattern exacerbating the seasonal rainfall.

At least 58 people have died in neighboring Tanzania, and several thousand have become homeless, while nearly 100,000 individuals have been displaced in Burundi.

Kenyan police recounted saving the life of a five-year-old boy stranded alone by floods in Machakos County south of the capital on Tuesday.

The child was airlifted to safety by helicopter, the National Police Service shared on X, previously known as Twitter.

Across Nairobi, images posted by Kenyan media outlets depicted trucks, cars, and motorcycles stuck in flooded areas.

"The city is at a standstill because most roads are flooded," Kelvin Mwangi, an Uber driver, remarked.

"We are spending more time on the road because we are taking longer routes, and sometimes we can't reach our destination."

Homes in the sprawling Nairobi slum of Mathare were submerged, with reports from local media stating that residents had to sleep on rooftops overnight.

A picture shared on X by the Kenya Red Cross showed their workers, sometimes standing in waist-high water, engaged in rescue efforts, with a man carrying a young child on his shoulder.

The Athi River, Kenya's second longest, overflowed, blocking roads and leaving residents stranded, as reported by the Red Cross.

They mentioned heavy rainfall overnight in many parts of Nairobi, causing flash floods in multiple areas.

"Roads and bridges are affected, leading to heavy traffic on major roads," stated the Red Cross on X.

"Our response teams are on the ground in most of these areas, evacuating families to safety and providing other life-saving interventions," they added.

As a precautionary measure due to heavy rains affecting rail lines, Kenya Railways announced a temporary suspension of commuter train services.

El Nino often has devastating effects in East Africa, as seen late last year when over 300 people died in torrential rains and floods in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia.

Between October 1997 and January 1998, massive floods resulted in over 6,000 deaths across five countries in the region.