Kenya Flash Flood Leaves 32 Dead, Thousands Displaced

At least 32 people have been reported dead in Kenya alone and two individuals still missing, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 

Heavy downpours have caused significant damage, displacement, and disruption of livelihoods, leaving communities in ruins and affecting 21 out of 47 counties in Kenya. A total of 103,500 people have been affected by the flooding.

With many houses submerged in the waters, the extreme weather conditions led to the closure of some roadways on Wednesday around the capital city of Nairobi, stopping transportation and mobility. The Kenya railways also suspended many routes due to rivers and flooding, citing safety concerns. 

Kenya’s President, William Ruto this morning, acknowledged the severity of the situation and directed the Ministry of Interior and EAC, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development, and the National Youth Service to respond promptly by coordinating multi-agency response efforts to the crisis.

Weather experts attribute the extreme weather to factors such as El Niño and differences in sea surface temperatures around the Indian Ocean.

The rainy season, known as ‘Masika,’ has been particularly intense, with a regional climate center warning of heightened flood risks. The rainy season typically ends in May, followed by a shorter period of precipitation known as ‘vuli’ in November and December.

Kenya has experienced heavy rain since mid-March, but the downpours intensified significantly over the past week, leading to mass flooding.

The Kenya Meteorological Department this morning also forecasted heavy rainfall to persist across the country for the coming days and issued a warning of “heavy to very heavy” rainfall in parts of the country.

“Continued rainfall is anticipated across various parts of the country as indicated in the Wednesday and Thursday rainfall forecast maps,” it said.