Kenya: 71 Flood Deaths As Kenya Warned of Intensifying Long Rains

The ongoing heavy rains in Kenya have led to severe flooding, resulting in a rising death toll. As of the latest reports, the overall fatalities across the country have reached at least 71, with five additional deaths confirmed by the National Police Service (NPS) during ongoing search and rescue operations. In Nairobi alone, the death toll has risen to 23, following heavy overnight rains that began on Saturday evening. These rains have caused significant disruptions, particularly in Nairobi, where flooding has severely impacted traffic and necessitated emergency responses from rescue teams across the city. The heavy rainfall has also disrupted flights at Kenyatta International Airport, with several Kenya Airways flights being diverted to Mombasa due to adverse weather conditions. Roads in the capital are submerged, further complicating transportation and rescue efforts. The Ministry of Interior and National Administration has reported that approximately 12,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed as a result of the flooding, highlighting the extensive damage caused by the ongoing weather conditions. In response to the crisis, President William Ruto has activated a multi-agency response to address the severe flooding affecting various parts of Kenya. The government is fully mobilized to respond to the situation, which has put lives and livelihoods at risk. Rescue operations have been initiated, including the overnight rescue of eleven individuals from a minibus taxi that became stuck in rising floodwaters in Nairobi. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and provide assistance to those affected by the flooding.