Flash floods claim 7 lives in Nairobi, Kenya

ByRishav Kothari

At least 7 people died in flash floods in Nairobi, Kenya, officials reported on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The flooding displaced more than 500 people and affected over 60 000 across the city.

Flash floods triggered by heavy rains on Monday, April 21, have claimed at least 7 lives in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. The police expect this number to rise as some victims might have gotten swept downstream.

A mother and her two children were killed after a boulder crushed their home in the Mathare Phase 4 area. Preliminary assessment suggests that the boulder was part of a wall and was weakened when a nearby river overflowed, leading to the deadly collapse. Search and rescue teams have been mobilized to search for the bodies.

The incident prompted authorities to evacuate homes that are at risk from such disasters.

Three other deaths were reported, including one in the Mukuru Kwa Reuben slums after individuals were swept away by the floodwaters. One person was found dead after drowning in the Ngong River at Likoni Bridge in South B. The second body was retrieved from floodwaters along Jogoo Road.

In Dandora Phase 5, a young schoolgirl drowned while attempting to cross a flooded tributary of the Nairobi River using a makeshift bridge. A local rescuer who jumped in to save her also went missing. Dozens more have been reported missing, with teams actively trying to locate flood victims.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said that over 60 000 people had been affected by the floods.

Floodwaters have inundated multiple homes, displacing over 500 residents across the city. The government has mobilized multiple teams for flood assistance, including teams dedicated to unclogging blocked drains to drain out the floodwaters.

Much of the country continues to experience rain, with forecasts suggesting that showers and thunderstorms could continue through the weekend.

References:

1 Flash floods kill at least 6 in Kenyan capital amid ongoing heavy rains – Xinhua -April 23, 2025

Feature image credit: Kncreator

Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.

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