KDF and Red Cross Deploy as Heavy Rains Submerge CBD and Major Highways

Residents and businesses across Nairobi are counting heavy losses after intense rainfall on the evening of Friday, March 6 triggered widespread flooding across the capital, submerging roads, damaging property and disrupting transport.

Images and videos shared online showed vehicles nearly completely submerged in water in different parts of the city, with some cars reportedly swept away by fast-moving floodwaters. 

Several businesses and homes were also flooded as the downpour overwhelmed drainage systems.

In a statement released on Friday night, the Kenya Red Cross confirmed that heavy rains had caused flooding in multiple areas across the city and neighbouring regions.

“Heavy rainfall has caused flooding in several parts of Nairobi and surrounding areas, leading to road closures, property damage, displacement and distress among affected communities,” the humanitarian organisation said.

Major roads affected by the flooding included sections of central business district streets, Uhuru Highway, Mbagathi Way, Mombasa Road between South C and the JKIA exit toward Kyumbi, Thika Superhighway between Githurai and Kahawa Sukari, Jogoo Road, Lunga Lunga Road, Enterprise Road and Lang’ata Road near T-Mall.

In one dramatic incident that quickly went viral on social media, passengers aboard a 33-seater public service vehicle were stranded on Uhuru Highway near the Haile Selassie exit of the Nairobi Expressway after floodwaters nearly submerged the bus.

The passengers were captured forming a human chain as they carefully exited the vehicle and moved to higher ground to avoid being swept away by the rushing water.

Rescue teams from the Kenya Red Cross were deployed to assist stranded motorists and pedestrians in various parts of the city. 

The organisation confirmed that its first responders successfully rescued 20 people who had been trapped by rising waters along Kirinyaga Road.

Flooding was not limited to major highways, as several residential estates also reported severe water levels. 

Areas such as Pipeline and Embakasi experienced significant disruption, with Kware Road becoming completely impassable.

Other neighbourhoods affected included Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Reuben, Viwandani, Kibra, Mathare, Huruma and Baba Dogo. 

In some of these areas, the overflowing Nairobi River caused water to spill into nearby homes, forcing residents to spend the night in cold and damp conditions.

Additional areas hit by the floods included Bosnia, South B, South C, Nairobi West, Lang’ata, Umoja 3, Chokaa, Njiru, Ruai, Utawala, Roysambu, Kahawa West, Githurai, Loresho and parts of Westlands.

As city emergency teams struggled to manage the situation, the Kenya Defence Forces deployed its Military Rapid Response Unit to assist with traffic control and rescue operations.

The military unit helped clear traffic congestion caused by stalled vehicles and coordinated the towing of several cars blocking key routes. 

According to the military, five vehicles were towed from the Kariokor–Ring Road roundabout to restore traffic flow.

Traffic control measures were also established at the Mbagathi Roundabout to ease congestion caused by the flooding.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that heavy rainfall is likely to continue over the coming days as the country enters the long rains season.

The department forecasts rainfall of up to 20 millimetres between Wednesday and Monday next week in Nairobi and several other regions, raising concerns that flooding could persist if the downpours continue.