Heavy overnight rains caused severe flooding in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, on Saturday, leaving motorists stranded for hours as roads were submerged. The military was deployed to assist emergency rescue services, while the local toll road operator waived fees for an elevated route to ease congestion.
The downpour, which began on Friday and continued through the night, submerged vehicles and forced some residents to wade through hip-high water to reach higher ground. A military rescue unit was activated overnight to support the Kenya Red Cross, whose teams struggled to access affected areas due to traffic and flooded roads.
Kenya Red Cross Secretary-General Ahmed Idris said search and rescue teams were working tirelessly but were severely limited by the conditions. "We are severely limited by the traffic and the situation on what used to be roads. We are doing our best to reach those in need," he wrote on social media platform X.
Some residents blamed the flooding on clogged drainage systems, criticising city authorities for failing to ensure functional infrastructure ahead of the ongoing rainy season. A resident, Aisha Bajaber, posted on X: "The whole city is flooded yet again. How long will officials keep ignoring the lack of drainage?"
Rains have been pounding Kenya since late February, marking the start of the long-rains season. Previous rainy seasons have triggered flooding, landslides, and mudslides, killing hundreds and displacing thousands.
