Heavy rain began on Friday and continued overnight, submerging vehicles and forcing motorists in some areas to wade through hip-high water to reach higher ground. The Nairobi River burst its banks. According to George Seda, chief of police in Nairobi, more than 100 vehicles were damaged, with some overturning on the roadside and in parking bays.
The exact number of people killed in the floods remains uncertain, with police warning the death toll may rise. Some motorists in the capital were stranded for hours. Search and rescue teams were working tirelessly to assist those stranded, according to Ahmed Idris, Kenya Red Cross secretary-general.
Idris stated, "We are severely limited by the traffic and the situation on what used to be roads. " The total number of people stranded or displaced by the floods has not been confirmed. The floods caused diversions at the country's main airport - the biggest in East Africa.
Kenya Airways stated that flights were disrupted, with some diverted to the coastal city of Mombasa, and difficulties would persist for hours. Nairobi's airport is still operating. The country has been hit by heavy rain since late February, which marks the start of the long rainy season.
Previous rain seasons have seen flooding, landslides and mudslides that have left hundreds of people dead and seen thousands of others displaced. Further rain is expected for the next two weeks, with thunderstorms predicted for Saturday and Monday. Some residents blamed the flooding on clogged drainage systems, stating that city authorities ought to have prepared by ensuring there was functional drainage infrastructure ahead of the rainy season.
The specific causes of the flooding beyond general rain and clogged drainage systems are not fully determined. " The extent of damage to infrastructure beyond vehicles and airport disruptions is unclear. The effectiveness of city authorities' preparations for the rainy season has been questioned by some residents.