Man drowns in Nairobi slum as rains pound the city

A flooded road between KCA University and Utalli College in Ruaraka after heavy downpour in Nairobi on November 30, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

A man drowned after being swept away by raging floods in Nairobi’s Mukuru slums.

Police said efforts to recover the body were ongoing as they moved to the scene asking neighbours to move to higher and safer areas.

The victim is said to be a resident who has been running a butchery next to a riverbank of Nairobi River.

Nairobi police boss Philip Ndolo said they had mobilized resources to patrol the city and ensure endangered residents are safe.

“We urge those on the paths that may be flooded to move to safer places. Experts say the rains may continue to dangerous levels,” said Ndolo.

Most roads were flooded in the city following the rains that have been experienced.

More than 120 people have been killed and 160,000 others, including nearly 18,000 who are displaced countrywide, have been affected by floods or landslides since the onset of the short rains in October.

At the weekend, two people were killed and several families displaced in the Kilungu area, Makueni County.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) the victims include 72 who lost their lives in the West Pokot County landslide.

The agency cited the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) and said 160,000 people, including nearly 18,000 who are displaced countrywide, have been affected by floods or landslides since the onset of the short rains in October.

Infrastructure of undetermined value, including roads and bridges, have been damaged, hampering effective humanitarian response efforts in affected areas.

Most parts of the country continue to experience above-average rainfall since the onset of the 2019 short rains (October – December).

While the rains, driven by the strong positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), might result in improved pasture conditions in arid and semi-arid lands, especially Turkana, Marsabit, Isiolo, and Wajir counties, as well as recharge of surface water pans and dams, including in Masinga, Kiambere and Turkwell dams, there are also reports of overspread damage, loss of lives and livelihoods due to heavy storms.

Flash and riverine floods have affected at least 31 of the 47 counties, including in Central, Coastal, Eastern, Northern, Nyanza, Rift Valley and Western regions, and urban areas in Nairobi and Mombasa, according to National Disaster Operation Centre (NDOC).

Landslides and mudslides were reported in Meru, Murang’a, Taita Taveta and West Pokot counties.

On 22 November, landslides and mudslides in parts of West Pokot County resulted in the death of at least 72 people and displacement of more than 10,000 people, according to the County authorities.

Farms, food stores, and livestock were swept away, and two bridges along the Kitale-Lodwar road (Ortum) and along Sigor road (Chepera) were cut-off, leaving dozens of commuters stranded and disrupting communication networks in the area.

Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing in the area and the numbers of the affected population could increase in the coming days.

In Wajir County, floods arising from rainfall in the Ethiopian Highlands cut off all the roads leading to Bute and Gurar in Wajir North sub-county and washed away a bridge in Buna Town, impacting supplies and response in the area.

Communication to Moyale and Bute was disrupted and at least 5,000 people near Buna market were displaced to higher grounds.

In Garissa and Tana River counties, heavy rains on 22 and 23 November led to massive flooding in the area, exacerbated by the bursting of Tana River.

Preliminary assessments from Tana River and Garissa indicate that 624 families have been displaced.

Sections of roads and bridges have been cut-off, paralyzing transport and humanitarian access in various counties.

In Turkana, flash floods destroyed boreholes, calling for the installation of an improved drainage system and relocation of people in affected residential areas to safer grounds.

Public toilets and latrines have collapsed or are flooded in many areas, increasing the risks of disease outbreaks.

Schools are closed in Trans Nzoia and Machakos counties, where several classrooms were flooded.

According to the Kenya Meteorological Department, heavy rains are expected to continue across the country over the next few weeks, mainly due to the positive IOD measurements.

Flood alerts have been issued especially for Coastal, Northern and Western regions of the country, with the risk of landslides and mudslides expected in parts of the Central Highlands and parts of the Rift Valley, including West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nandi counties.

Kenya was already facing increase hunger prior to the floods, with 3.1 million people projected to be in crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity since October, according to the latest report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).