Kenya’s military has been deployed to aid in the rescue efforts following heavy rains that have led to numerous fatalities across East Africa in recent weeks.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, at least 45 individuals have perished in floods in Kenya since March, with ten fatalities reported since Monday alone.
Extensive areas of Nairobi, as well as other major towns, are submerged, compelling thousands of residents to evacuate their homes.
Collins Obondo, 38, recounted the loss of four relatives in Wednesday’s flooding in Nairobi’s densely-populated Mathare neighborhood, situated along the Nairobi River. “The body of my mother’s neighbour was trapped right across here and it seemed as though my cousin held her ankle with her head lodged between her thighs,” he told media as he sifted through the remnants of his mother’s collapsed house.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Tanzania, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa informed parliament on Thursday that the death toll from the rains has reached 155. In Burundi, hundreds of thousands have been displaced from their homes.
The region has been grappling with record floods since the last rainy season in late 2023. Scientists attribute these extreme weather events to climate change, which is causing more frequent and intense phenomena.
Kenyan President William Ruto, in a meeting with senior government officials, announced the military’s deployment to bolster rescue operations. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stated that a multi-agency emergency response center would be activated later on Thursday, noting that above-normal rainfall is anticipated for the coming week.
