By Our Correspondent
National News – At least 62 people have died across Kenya after days of relentless heavy rainfall triggered severe flooding in several regions, with the capital city of Nairobi suffering the worst damage.
Authorities say the death toll has risen sharply from the previously reported 42 casualties as rescue teams continue searching for missing residents in submerged neighborhoods.
Emergency responders reported dramatic rescue operations overnight as floodwaters rapidly spread across urban and rural communities.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, 11 passengers were saved after a public minibus—locally called a matatu—became trapped in rising floodwaters in Nairobi.
In a separate incident, two children were rescued from a flooded house as emergency teams raced against time to reach stranded residents.
The week-long downpour has caused flash floods rarely seen in recent years. Rivers burst their banks, sweeping through homes, damaging roads, and disrupting electricity and water supplies.
Several bridges in Nairobi have also been damaged, forcing the closure of key roads and causing significant traffic disruption.
Some schools in flood-prone areas were inundated following intense rainfall on Saturday.
Kenya’s Interior Ministry warned that heavy rains are still affecting various parts of the country, increasing the risk of further flooding and landslides.
Authorities have advised residents living in low-lying and riverside communities to relocate to safer areas immediately.
So far, more than 2,000 people have been displaced and are taking shelter in temporary camps.
Police and disaster response agencies say search and rescue operations are ongoing as teams continue to assess damage caused by the torrential rainfall.
Officials attribute much of the devastation in Nairobi to poor drainage systems and unregulated construction that has blocked natural waterways.
President William Ruto announced that emergency food supplies and medical assistance are being delivered to affected communities.
Government teams have also begun clearing blocked drainage channels to reduce flooding in vulnerable districts.
The disaster is part of a broader regional crisis. Flooding and landslides in neighboring Ethiopia have reportedly killed more than 100 people in recent days.
Scientists warn that climate change is increasing the likelihood of extreme rainfall events across East Africa, putting millions at greater risk of flooding.
