Death Toll from Kenya’s Devastating Flash Floods Rises to 88, with 2,690 Families Displaced
The National Police Service has confirmed that the death toll from the ongoing flash floods triggered by heavy rains across Kenya has climbed to 88 as of March 24, 2026.
Torrential downpours that intensified earlier this month have caused widespread destruction, with rivers bursting their banks, landslides, and severe flooding affecting multiple regions. The latest fatalities include two children killed in a landslide in Kilungu Sub-County, Makueni County, where four others sustained injuries, highlighting the deadly risks facing vulnerable communities.
According to the police update, at least 2,690 families have been forced to abandon their homes and are now sheltering in temporary evacuation centres set up across the affected areas. While earlier government figures indicated over 34,000 individuals displaced nationwide, the family count underscores the scale of human suffering, with many losing property, livestock, and farmlands to the raging waters. At least 21 counties have been impacted, with infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and power lines suffering extensive damage, further complicating rescue and relief efforts.
As rains continue to pound parts of the country, authorities have warned of the risk of more casualties and urged residents in low-lying and flood-prone zones to remain vigilant and heed evacuation advisories. Humanitarian organisations and county governments are mobilising food, clean water, and medical supplies for those in evacuation centres, but calls are growing louder for faster national response and long-term measures to mitigate climate-induced disasters. The tragic situation has once again spotlighted Kenya’s vulnerability to extreme weather events linked to changing climate patterns.
