East Africa Hit by Heavy Rains Killing 10 in Nairobi

At least 10 people have died in floods in Nairobi, while a separate evening downpour also flooded parts of Kampala, submerging shops and damaging merchandise in the busy Nakivubo Channel.

In Nairobi, authorities said the fatalities followed more than six hours of heavy rain on Friday, which began around 4:00 pm and continued past 9:00 pm, overwhelming drainage systems and paralyzing traffic across the city.

Local media reported that eight victims were swept away by floodwaters, while two others died in separate electrocution incidents.

Major roads were also submerged, causing severe roadblocks and leaving thousands of commuters stranded in the Nairobi Central Business District.

George Sedah, the Nairobi Police Commander, said 71 vehicles were swept away during the floods as rescue teams from the Kenya Red Cross Society and police divers were deployed to the Grogan area to search for bodies trapped beneath vehicles and debris.

Meanwhile in Kampala, an evening downpour flooded parts of the city, with photos and videos circulating on social media showing water flooding shops in the Nakivubo business area.

Traders reported destruction of merchandise as floodwaters entered shops around the Nakivubo Channel. Some members of the public blamed the construction of a business complex by the Ham Group of Companies on the channel, saying it has worsened flooding in the area.

A similar incident occurred late last year when floods destroyed merchandise belonging to traders operating around Nakivubo malls.

The Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority said the heavy rainfall tested the city’s drainage systems but noted that water in most affected areas cleared quickly.

“Today’s heavy rainfall put our drainage systems to the test in Kampala, and the results are encouraging, although we have not yet achieved our target level of resilience,” the statement said.

However, officials said the water cleared within about seven minutes in most areas, compared to previous incidents where flooding would last for hours or even days.

The authority said the improvement follows recent drainage upgrades, including the construction of 16 crossing culverts along Allen Road and Sebana Road leading into the Nakivubo Channel.

Authorities urged residents and traders to dispose of waste responsibly and avoid blocking drainage channels.

According to local media, flooding in Uganda causes significant economic damage, with estimates confirming that the country loses over $100 million annually due to flood-related destruction.