Flooding and Landslides Claim At Least 18 Lives in Kenya

Kenya Experiences Flooding and Landslides Due to Ongoing Rains

At least 18 people have died as a result of flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains in various parts of Kenya. According to the police, incidents were reported in Tharaka Nithi, Elgeyo-Marakwet, and Kiambu counties, which are located in the country’s central and eastern regions.

The police confirmed that 18 lives have been lost due to these incidents and urged caution for residents living in areas prone to landslides or flooding. The authorities stated that mudslides have affected multiple families, displaced households, and caused significant damage to property and infrastructure.

Residents of landslide-prone or flood-affected areas are advised to exercise caution. Reports from local media indicate that streets in Nairobi’s capital city are overflowing with water, with cars and pedestrians wading through the deluge. Traders in the Makongeni and Ruai neighbourhoods staged protests on Sunday due to poor road conditions.

Weather authorities earlier warned of potential health risks associated with waterborne diseases during the rainy season. The country is currently experiencing its seasonal March to May rain season, which typically peaks in the first half of May. Experts have noted that human-induced climate change may be exacerbating weather conditions in Kenya and other East African countries.

According to Fruzsina Straus, head of Disaster Risk Reduction for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), “Across African cities, water extremes—too much during intense rains and too little during droughts—are driving increasingly severe impacts.”

Source: Al Jazeera