At least 42 people died in days of floods in Kenya | Flood news

Authorities say 26 people have died in the capital since Friday as floodwaters submerged homes and swept away vehicles.

At least 42 people have died in days of flooding in Kenya, the government has reported.

Heavy rains have caused flash flooding in several regions of the country since Friday.

Kenya’s Public Services and Special Programs Minister Geoffrey Ruku told reporters on Sunday that police had documented 42 deaths since then, including 26 in the capital Nairobi.

Police said deaths were reported in several counties as torrential rains hit much of the country over the weekend, flooding roads and disrupting transport and daily activities in several cities. The floods had also caused extensive damage to infrastructure and livelihoods.

In Nairobi, floods swept through slums and informal settlements, submerging homes and washing away vehicles as rivers burst their banks.

Kenya Airways also said rain had disrupted flights to Nairobi and forced some to divert to the coastal city of Mombasa.

On Saturday, aid workers pulled bodies from floodwaters across the capital.

Kenyan President William Ruto said he had deployed a team of rescuers, including soldiers, to coordinate rescue efforts, while offering his condolences to affected communities.

“I have also ordered that relief food from our national strategic reserves be immediately released and distributed to flood-affected families,” he said in a statement on social media on Saturday.

“In addition, the Government will cover the hospital bills of those injured or affected by the floods and currently receiving treatment in public health centres,” Ruto wrote.

Officials said the support is aimed at easing the burden on households affected by the tragedy.

“These floods once again highlight the urgent need for lasting solutions to the perennial challenge of flooding in our urban areas,” the president said.

Scientists say global warming is worsening floods and droughts across eastern Africa by concentrating rainfall into shorter, more intense bursts.

Neighboring countries such as Somalia and Ethiopia are also affected.

A 2024 World Weather Attribution study found that climate change had made devastating rains in the region twice as likely as before.

The Kenya Red Cross said hundreds of homes in neighboring counties had also been affected and large tracts of farmland destroyed.

“I would call for joint efforts between government humanitarian agencies to address this problem and understand why we are suffering these ravages,” Red Cross spokesman Munir Ahmed told the AFP news agency.