Flood Death Toll Climbs to 62: Nairobi Bears the Brunt of Devastating Rains
The Ministry of Interior has confirmed that the death toll from relentless heavy rains and widespread flooding across Kenya has surged to 62 as of March 13, 2026. The victims include 46 men, 8 women, and 8 children, underscoring the tragic human cost of the ongoing disaster.
Nairobi has suffered the heaviest losses with 33 fatalities, far outpacing other regions: the Eastern region reported 17 deaths, Rift Valley 7, while Nyanza and Coast each recorded 2, and Central just 1. These figures reflect the rapid escalation since the initial flash floods struck on Friday night, overwhelming infrastructure and claiming lives through drowning, electrocution from fallen power lines, and other flood-related hazards.
The deluge has turned parts of Nairobi into disaster zones, particularly low-lying neighborhoods like South C, South B, and Nairobi West, where poor drainage systems failed catastrophically, submerging roads, stranding vehicles, and flooding homes. Multi-agency rescue teams, including the National Police Service and Kenya Red Cross Society, continue intensive search and recovery operations amid warnings from the Meteorological Department of more heavy rainfall expected in the capital over the next 24 hours. Earlier reports indicate that more than 10,000 households have been impacted nationwide, with thousands displaced and seeking refuge in safer locations, highlighting the scale of destruction beyond just fatalities.
In response, Nairobi County has introduced emergency measures, including a one-month waiver on levies and approvals for property repairs to speed up recovery efforts, as announced by Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja emphasized in recent statements that fixing the city's chronic drainage woes requires long-term investment and comprehensive urban planning rather than short-term patches, calling for sustainable financing to elevate infrastructure to international standards. As search efforts persist and the threat of further downpours looms, authorities urge residents in vulnerable areas to heed evacuation alerts and avoid flooded zones to prevent additional loss of life in what has become one of Kenya's most severe recent weather crises.
