How devastating floods expose decades of poor urban planning

People walk through floodwater in one of Kenya’s informal settlements after heavy rains in Nairobi. [Xinhua]

Floods in Kenya killed at least 169 people between March and April 2024. The most catastrophic of these deaths occurred after a flash flood swept through a rural village killing 42 people.

Death and destruction have also occurred in the capital, Nairobi, a stark reminder of the persistent failure to keep abreast of the city’s rapid urbanisation needs.