Hundreds of families in Nairobi and Machakos counties spent Saturday night in the cold due to overnight rains that caused flooding across the city and in the Syokimau area. According to the City County government, one person has lost their life, and a child is missing as a result of heavy flooding in Nairobi.
In a statement on Sunday, the County Government confirmed the ongoing search for the missing child in Kibra subcounty. The county’s emergency teams, led by the Disaster Management, are working tirelessly to provide relief efforts to affected areas.
Acting County Secretary Patrick Analo stated that they are collaborating with the National Government, National Police Service, and the Red Cross to ensure the well-being of affected individuals. He urged residents who have built structures on riparian reserves to vacate, as the county plans to restore rivers to their original paths.
“We urge all citizens to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to safeguard themselves and their property, especially those living near riverbanks. Please heed all warnings and advisories issued by relevant authorities and avoid unnecessary travel in flood-prone areas,” Analo said.
The Nairobi County Government has identified areas affected by the overflow of Ngong River, Mau Mau River, a bridge in Mukuru Kyaba slum in South B, and the Kiambiu informal settlement in Starehe sub-county.
Analo noted that while some city roads were affected by floods, drainage systems around Raila Odinga Road and the Lang’ata Road roundabout (near T-mall) are now functional. The Mobility and Works team is working closely with Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) to ensure roads are passable.
Over the weekend, vehicles got stuck in flooded waters due to the heavy rains, with city residents sharing videos and pictures of flooded roads affecting various areas.
