Torrential rains that began late Friday night and continued into Saturday morning submerged vehicles, paralyzed traffic and stranded thousands of commuters across Nairobi, affecting even affluent neighbourhoods such as Westlands and Karen.
Major arteries including Mombasa Road, Thika Road and Uhuru Highway were among the worst hit, with fast-moving water reaching depths of more than one metre in several sections. Motorists abandoned cars in the middle of the road while others were trapped inside as floodwaters rose rapidly. Footage from Mombasa Road near the Mlolongo area showed vehicles completely submerged up to the roof, with drivers climbing onto bonnets or being rescued by passing motorcyclists. Similar scenes played out along Thika Road near Kasarani and on Uhuru Highway near the University of Nairobi.
The Kenya Red Cross and Nairobi County rescue teams worked through the night to pull stranded motorists to safety. Several people were hospitalised for hypothermia and minor injuries after wading through chest-high water. No confirmed fatalities had been reported by mid-morning Saturday, but Senator Edwin Sifuna claimed lives had been lost in the floods.
“This is not just rain; this is leadership failure,” Sifuna said in a televised address from the flooded city centre. “We have known for years that Nairobi’s drainage system cannot handle heavy downpours. Yet every rainy season we see the same tragedy—vehicles underwater, people stranded, businesses closed, children unable to go to school. Someone must be held accountable. How many more lives must be lost before we fix this?”
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja responded by activating the county’s disaster response mechanism. Speaking from the County Emergency Operations Centre, Sakaja confirmed that drain-clearing teams, excavators and dewatering pumps had been deployed across all sub-counties. “We are clearing all major drainage channels, especially along Mombasa Road, Thika Road, Outering Road, Jogoo Road and Ngong Road,” Sakaja said. “We have opened evacuation centres in every ward, provided food and blankets to those affected and are coordinating with the Kenya Red Cross and National Disaster Management Unit to ensure no one is left behind.”
The governor appealed to motorists to avoid flooded roads and use alternative routes where possible. “Do not attempt to drive through standing water,” Sakaja warned. “Even shallow-looking floods can sweep vehicles away. Leave your car if necessary and seek higher ground.”
The Kenya Meteorological Department has forecast continued heavy rains over Nairobi and the surrounding counties through March 7, with the risk of flash flooding remaining high. The City County Disaster Risk Management Committee has urged residents in low-lying areas, informal settlements and near riverbanks to relocate to safer ground.
Public frustration has boiled over online and on the streets, with many residents pointing to years of neglected drainage maintenance, blocked culverts, illegal constructions on riparian land and poor urban planning. “Every year the same story—rains come, roads become rivers, and leaders promise action that never happens,” one commuter stranded on Thika Road posted on X. “We pay taxes, we pay for county services, yet our city drowns.”
In upscale Westlands and Karen, where flooding is less common, residents were equally shocked. “I’ve lived here for 15 years and never seen water reach my gate,” said a Karen homeowner. “This is not normal rain; this is years of poor planning catching up with us.”
The Kenya Red Cross has activated its emergency response teams and appealed for donations of food, blankets, mattresses and clean water. “We are seeing families displaced from informal settlements along the Nairobi River and Ngong River,” a Red Cross spokesperson said. “We have set up temporary shelters in churches, schools and community halls, but we need more support to reach everyone affected.”
As Nairobi begins the slow process of recovery, the floods serve as a stark reminder of the city’s vulnerability to climate change and inadequate infrastructure. With more rain forecast, authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel until the situation stabilizes.
