Flash Floods in Kenya Kill at Least 81 as Heavy Rains Persist
Western Kenya villages submerged as rivers overflow and thousands flee homes
- At least 81 people have died, and nearly 2,700 families have been displaced across Kenya due to flash floods and overflowing rivers
- Floodwaters have submerged villages, destroyed 1,200 hectares of farmland
- Heavy rains are forecast to continue, with authorities warning of landslides, rising water levels at Nairobi Dam
At least 81 people have died in Kenya this month as torrential rains continue to batter large parts of the country, authorities reported Sunday.
Floodwaters have surged through western regions, forcing residents to carry belongings above their heads and evacuate via overcrowded boats, highlighting the growing desperation among displaced communities.
Entire villages in Kisumu County have been submerged, with roughly 1,200 hectares of farmland destroyed and crops that sustained already vulnerable households washed away. More than 3,000 families in Nyakach were displaced as the overflowing River Mirui inundated fields and settlements, prompting evacuations to temporary shelters.
Local chief Seth Oluoch Agwanda described massive soil erosion that wiped out newly planted crops, leaving families uncertain about future food security and income.
Nairobi recorded the highest death toll, with 37 fatalities reported as floods overwhelmed neighbourhoods and infrastructure, according to national police spokesman Muchiri Nyaga. Nationwide, nearly 2,690 families have been displaced, and roads, homes, and public facilities have sustained extensive damage.
Authorities urged residents living downstream from the Nairobi Dam to evacuate vulnerable informal settlements as rising water levels threatened to breach protective embankments overnight. Emergency teams continue to monitor the dam, which has held so far, warning that continued rainfall could quickly worsen conditions.
Heavy rains are forecast to continue until Tuesday, prompting officials to call for extreme caution as swollen rivers and saturated ground increase the risk of landslides. Two people drowned in Kiambu near the capital, while landslides in Kasaka village buried homes, killing two more, according to police and local media reports.
Across Nairobi, streets have turned into fast-moving rivers, flooding homes and businesses and sparking criticism of city leadership for delays in promised drainage and infrastructure improvements. Residents in Nyakach described abandoning flooded homes as nearly every structure lay underwater, forcing families to seek shelter alongside their livestock.
Scientists warn that human-driven climate change is intensifying extreme weather in East Africa, which has experienced increasingly severe cycles of droughts and destructive rainfall over recent decades.
