Flash floods in Kenya kill at least 50 | DW News

A natural disaster is unfolding in Kenya. Red Cross officials say the death toll has risen to 50 after weeks of flooding across the country. Torrential rains have brought the capital city Nairobi to a standstill. The commuter train service has been suspended and major roads are blocked. Entire neighborhoods are underwater, and thousands have fled their homes to seek shelter.

Follow DW on social media:

[wuokmayangjanguan]

Flood issue aside, mass migration of people from villages to big cities where they don’t have stable means of income and end up living in a slum is a huge problem in Africa. There is plenty of land in the countryside where people can farm or raise livestock and have decent life in Africa. But many choose to move to big cities where they will live a miserable lives. If you work hard in your home state or county, you can have things people have in big city .

[kamasalothi]

The government? LOL. That allows its people to live in shanty houses, thats not a government

[blazer]

They didn't repair the dam even though a university warned.

[Redcatek]

Bad governance, corruption n broad day thuggery in gvt makes a nation sink.. Soo frustrating!

[georgesagwe]

That woman wo spoke english is not from kenya but from uganda, and the other woman spoke swahili from Tanzania

[demetriusjones]

Even with the dam unfixed why not build miniature irrigation systems(improvised aqueducts) and see what happens.

[kristokinkela]

A flood that didn’t even kill a cat in Dubai but 50 in Kenya still Africa sad gov no infra

[eldios]

Rainfall is better than drought....Those dams need to be built...in a few months time they will be complaining about drought and locusts

[HellenofTroy]

The Kenyan "president" is too busy opening an ultramodern office building for members of parliament to give a hoot about Kenyans. His priorities are contemplating a new jet for himself and Kshs 200miliion donated to Sudan the other day. His modus operandi is to say all the right words with bluster and pomp then follow with no action.

[lithiumdarko]

So anyone else notice the flood trend?

[destiny_calls]

Is this Nairobi really??? What a city😅😅😅😅.

[toptohyekoms]

why do they still stay there? dont they have any evacuation site for them to stay safer than that

[mubizz]

That's so sad. May their souls rest in peace.

Governments have challenges with handling population explosion to the urban cities especially the capitals. Strict and tough laws should be put in place and implemented to force such people out of unplanned settlements.

[kenyareads]

Journalists should consider investigating whether the flooding we are seeing in Nairobi is a result of the current county Government allowing the reconstruction of buildings on riparian land that were demolished by the previous county Government.

Riparian land is land on the natural flow path of water when it rains. Riparian land is documented by Civil Engineers, surveyors, etc.

When buildings are built in riparian land, the natural flow of streams, rivers, etc is blocked. Thus, when it rains, the type of flooding we are seeing may be a direct consequence of blocking the natural flow path of the streams, rivers, etc. Thus, Kenyans in Nairobi may be suffering the consequences of the county Government ignoring the advice of people trained to determine what land should not be built upon.

The fix, of course, is to do what the previous county Government did. Demolish all buildings that have been put up on riparian, remove the debris and then clear a path for the natural flow of water when it rains.

[TeresiaKioko-dovj]

Mathare slum. A real tragedy.

Rich neighborhoods such as Karen, Runda, Kileleshwa will never face such tragedies.


Massive corruption derailing progress in Kenya with chief corruption officer at the helm.

[bergkind]

It's enough, Africa must finally start to reshape the country itself using its own strength and money. Yes, there are already a lot of people there who are doing things on their own, but innovation needs to be increased. I know that they will make it and I am full of joy and confidence, hope. I mean, it´s not about this flood ist generall. Now is the time too generate new and better things.

[rochellegutman]

So sad for them. May they unite and work together to rise from the destruction

[GloryTouch]

Uganda Zaabu. We are friends with rain 🌧️❤

[lakeinrocks]

Sasa ona the way our votes are making us pay...we were told clearly choices have consequences. These politicians knew what was coming based on meteorological reports and said they would pray instead...sasa ona

[Nisi]

It is very sad may god have mercy 💚🩵🩷🙏🏾