Kenya: Floods paralyze movement and close roads southeast of Nairobi

Written by: Mohamed Ragab

Caused floods Heavy rains caused widespread traffic disruption in the Siukemao area, located southeast of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, after water flooded the main and secondary roads, disrupting vehicle traffic and making it difficult for residents to get to their jobs and daily activities.

Residents confirmed area The roads have become almost impossible to pass through, as many cars are stuck in the water, while a large number of citizens have been forced to stay inside their homes due to the lack of safe routes to cross the affected areas.

Increasing financial losses

African media outlets quoted residents complaining that the floods caused direct losses to the people, which included difficulty moving to work and the extent of the damage suffered by daily laborers.

One taxi driver explained that he had been stuck in traffic for many hours after dropping off a passenger at the SGR railway station, noting that the crisis had cost him significant losses in time and fuel.

More than 80 people have died as a result of the recent floods.

These developments come at a time when Kenya is experiencing a severe weather wave, with recent floods in Nairobi and other areas causing the deaths of more than 80 people, according to local reports.

Scientists believe that climate change resulting from human activity increases the likelihood of extreme weather events, whether in terms of frequency, intensity, or duration of impact, while studies indicate that the East African region has experienced more severe waves of heavy rain and drought during the past two decades.

Residents of the affected areas are calling on Kenyan authorities to take urgent action to improve drainage networks and facilitate movement in flood-prone areas, in order to reduce recurring human and economic losses.

According to reports, the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, is experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis due to the massive floods that have swept through the city since March 2026, as unprecedented heavy rains have caused entire neighborhoods to be submerged, especially in poor areas such as Mathare and Kibera.

This disaster has resulted in dozens of casualties and the displacement of thousands after water swept away their homes and destroyed infrastructure, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency, suspend train traffic, and close main roads that turned into rivers hindering rescue operations.