Kenya Flood Death Toll Rises to Over Forty
Last update: March 9, 2026
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Authorities say heavy rains have caused widespread damage as rescue operations continue.
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in Kenya’s capital Nairobi and other parts of the country has nearly doubled to 42, the government said in a statement issued late Sunday.
Intense rainfall on Friday triggered widespread flooding, with some people drowning while vehicles were swept away and traffic disrupted at the country’s largest airport.
The previous death toll stood at 23.
Emergency workers from several agencies, including the military, were continuing search and rescue operations across the country, Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, minister for public service and human capital development, said in the statement.
The floods have also caused extensive damage to infrastructure and disrupted livelihoods. Authorities said 172 vehicles that had been swept away by floodwaters have since been recovered.
On Saturday, President William Ruto said he had ordered relief food from the country’s national strategic reserves to be immediately released for distribution to families affected by the floods.
Scientists say global warming is worsening floods and droughts across East Africa by concentrating rainfall into shorter and more intense bursts.
A 2024 World Weather Attribution study found climate change had made devastating rains in the region twice as likely as before.
