Deathly scenes witnessed have left mental anguish, say flood survivors

Parts of Nairobi were submerged following heavy rains on March 07, 2026. [John Muchucha, Standard] It's been a week since the heavy rains that pounded parts of Nairobi, but the heart-wrenching scenes have left traumatising memories for the survivors. The Friday evening deluge left a trail of destruction and at least 26 deaths, and some of those who lived to tell the story recall watching helplessly as people and property was washed away. They say the rains initially appeared harmless, but soon intensified beyond anything many had ever witnessed. Within hours, streets were turned into raging rivers, vehicles were swept away, buildings were flooded and many of people were left stranded as water levels rose rapidly. Videos and images circulating online showed desperate residents attempting to swim across flooded roads. In some areas, people formed human chains, holding hands in lines to cross to safer grounds. Simon Onyango, a mechanic in Grogon, one of the hardest-hit areas, explains how he narrowly escaped death. "We were here when it was raining, and it became very dangerous. Vehicles were floating and people were being swept away. I almost got carried away, but I was rescued using a rope. We stayed here the whole night trying to rescue people. We literally carried those we managed to save and in the morning we took some who were still breathing to hospital," he says. According to Onyango, the rescue efforts were exhausting and emotionally draining. "Others died, like an egg vendor who was carried away by the water." He says the traumatic experience has also taken a psychological toll on him. "It is only God that saved me; I would have died. It was a very painful experience. Buses were swept away and we could just hear passengers screaming but we could not do anything," says Onyango. A trader in the area popularly known as Maasai, who operates a butchery, recalls rushing out of his makeshift structure for safety before the floods swept away the entire stall together with everything inside. "I thank God I am alive and okay. Some were swept away and others died, but I survived," he says, adding that he suffered a loss of over Sh1 million. Gerald Kariuki, a boda boda rider, recalls how the rainstorm started as an ordinary evening shower before quickly escalating into a disaster. "When it started raining, we were relaxed because it did not seem like much water. But after a short while, the water levels rose very fast," he says. His motorcycle, which he had parked while seeking shelter, was swept away. "That day I got home at around 3am because the roads were completely jammed. Traffic was not moving, and at some point, I had to walk to get home. We have lost people we know and it is very painful," he says. Kariuki wants the national and county governments to prioritize drainage maintenance to prevent flooding during heavy rains. Kimberly Chesaina recounts how she narrowly escaped near Nyayo Stadium. "I survived, but I saw people drowning and dying. It is something I will never forget," she says. The disaster, she says, has left many families vulnerable and uncertain about their future. "The rains destroyed businesses, drowned people's cars and left many residents here in a desperate situation. Houses have been submerged, and now there is the threat of waterborne diseases. There is no electricity, people are sick and some do not even have places to sleep."

Deathly scenes witnessed have left mental anguish, say flood survivors

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Deathly scenes witnessed have left mental anguish, say flood survivors

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