Photos And Videos Capturing Nairobi's Flooding Situation: "Roads Turned Into Rivers"

• The floods have killed at least 35 people across the country, according to the Kenya Red Cross Society
• Business came to a standstill in Nairobi Central Business District after two trees fell across Moi Avenue, making it impassable
• Photos and videos showed how affected Nairobians took refuge on roofs and upper floors of their apartments

Michael Ollinga is a journalist at TUKO.co.ke with over 10 years of experience covering courts and crimes, special reports, and current affairs in Kenya.

Floods brought about by heavy rainfall pounding most parts of Kenya have resulted in deaths, human displacement, and massive destruction of property.

Floods kill 35 in Kenya

By Tuesday, April 23, Citizen TV, quoting the Kenya Red Cross Society, reported that the floods had led to the deaths of 35 people.

Though most parts of the country have been affected, the calamity strongly hit the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, which hosts the country's capital.

The situation saw Nairobi leaders, led by Senator Edwin Sifuna, Kibra MP Peter Orero and Kamukunji's Abdi Yusuf Hassan, call for help from the national government and other aid agencies.

According to the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance Africa, Nairobi County alone has a population of over 4.3 million residents and at least 1.4 million households.

Orero blamed the national government for failing to construct important roads and drainage systems in time, rendering the area inaccessible. Kibra is a populous informal settlement area.

"The main road to Kibra is impassable because it is muddy. The contract for its construction was given a long time ago but the works have not been done and as we speak, Kibra remains inaccessible," said Orero.

Hassan pointed out that floods had badly affected individuals and businesses in areas like Kamukunji and Eastleigh and attributed the situation to corruption and historical failures in city planning.

Some Nairobi dwellers called out Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja and his administration for failing to plan for such situations and wanted him to declare how much the county had allocated for flood mitigation.

The Nairobi Central Business District, which has experienced drainage hiccups in the past, was in for more because of the massive rainfall, which the weatherman indicated would continue through the month.

Major highways, such as the Thika Superhighway and Nairobi-Mwiki roads, were temporarily closed from Tuesday evening, April 23, to early Wednesday, April 24, due to raging flood waters.

Numerous vehicles have been swept away along these roads, as captured in videos by netizens and residents of the affected areas.

As the River Athi broke its banks, palatial homes were not spared in Syokimau, Machakos County.

With the floods' effects being felt, a health expert advised urban dwellers to use mosquito nets and boil drinking water to reduce their chances of getting sick.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.