10 Dead, 71 Cars Swept Away: Nairobi's Deadliest Floods in Years Hit the Capital Overnight

Nairobi woke up to devastation on Saturday morning. Nairobi Regional Police Commander George Sedah confirmed that at least 10 people died and 71 vehicles were swept away due to widespread flooding in the capital on Friday night TechCrunch — the deadliest single flood event in the Kenyan capital in recent years. Eight victims were swept away by raging floodwaters, while two others died after being struck by electricity. PetaPixel Rescue teams struggled through the night to reach affected neighbourhoods as flooded roads stalled emergency operations. The death toll is expected to rise — Commander Sedah confirmed police officers had been deployed to search for more bodies believed to be under the rubble left by the night's raging waters. What Happened: Friday Night's Catastrophic Downpour Heavy rains pounding Nairobi brought the city to a standstill on March 6, flooding major roads, stranding commuters and triggering severe traffic congestion across several neighbourhoods. The Register The downpour — which had been building since March 3 — turned key routes into streams of muddy water, forcing pedestrians to wade through ankle-to-knee-deep floods while motorists struggled to move through waterlogged streets. The worst affected areas were Kenyatta Avenue in the Central Business District, Kirinyaga Road, South C, Thika Road, Uhuru Highway, Mombasa Road, Ngong Road, Westlands, Parklands and Mbagathi Way, where water levels rose rapidly, making movement difficult for pedestrians and motorists. TechCrunch The scale of vehicle losses — 71 confirmed swept away — is staggering. At the Sunken Car Park along Aga Khan Walk in the CBD, floodwater rose halfway up several parked cars. WeeTracker The Grogan area — popular for automotive workshops and second-hand spare parts in downtown Nairobi — was particularly hard hit, with Kenya Red Cross members pictured atop submerged cars searching for bodies trapped in wreckages. A man was killed when his vehicle was swept down a stream while crossing the Kitengela River. Police are still searching for his body. The Worst Hit Communities: Pipeline, Embakasi, Kibra, Mathare The Kenya Red Cross Society reported that several residential estates and informal settlements were severely affected as water surged through low-lying areas. Communities in Pipeline and Embakasi were among the worst affected after sections of Kaware Road were completely cut off by floodwaters. Floodwaters also swept through Kibra, Mathare, Huruma, Baba Dogo and Bosnia — areas that frequently face flooding due to their proximity to river channels and limited drainage systems. PetaPixel Residents of South B, South C, Nairobi West and Lang'ata reported rising water levels that entered their homes. Eastern neighbourhoods including Umoja 3, Chokaa, Njiru, Ruai and Utawala were also affected. Residents of South C reported water flowing into their homes due to clogged drainage systems. TechCrunch The Emergency Response: Nairobi Expressway Opens Free of Charge Emergency responders and traffic authorities remained on high alert through Friday night and into Saturday. Moja Expressway Company, which operates the Nairobi Expressway, opened the road for motorists to use free of charge on Friday night to ease traffic congestion and provide a safer alternative for drivers navigating the flooded Mombasa Road — extending free usage through Saturday March 7 at 6:00am. News9live The National Transport and Safety Authority issued a safety advisory warning that ongoing rains and foggy conditions were creating dangerous driving environments — urging drivers to slow down, maintain safe distance, switch on headlights during rainfall, and avoid attempting to drive through flooded roads. The Anger: Residents Blame County Government The flooding sparked frustration among residents, with many taking to social media to criticise Nairobi City County Government over what they described as persistent drainage failures in the capital. They blamed the flooding on blocked drainage systems, uncollected garbage and rapid urban development without adequate infrastructure, which they say has left the city vulnerable whenever heavy rains fall. News9live The sentiment is not new — Nairobi has flooded repeatedly in recent years during heavy rainfall, with the same roads and estates affected each time. The question residents are asking on social media Saturday morning is brutally simple: how many more people need to die before the drains get fixed? What's Coming: More Rain Through March 9 The Kenya Meteorological Department warned that the heavy rainfall, exceeding 20 millimetres within 24 hours, is expected to continue across several parts of the country between March 3 and March 9, 2026 — with rainfall likely to peak between March 4 and March 7, before decreasing in most areas by March 8. Techish Residents in several parts of Nairobi including Westlands, Dagoretti, Roysambu, Kibra, Embakasi, Makadara and Kamukunji are expected to receive moderate to heavy rainfall, with some areas recording up to 50 millimetres or more within 24 hours. AppleInsider Authorities have urged residents to remain alert to possible flash floods, avoid crossing rivers which may have swollen or broken their banks, and not drive or walk through moving water or flooded roads. Ten people are gone. Seventy-one vehicles are under water. And the rain is not finished yet. For the latest updates on the Nairobi floods and Kenya weather emergency, follow digital8hub.com.