One dead, another missing as floods hit Kenya’s capital

Heavy rains on Friday triggered flash floods in Nairobi, leaving parts of Kenya's capital submerged, roads impassable, and rescue teams stretched as they worked through the night.

During a joint operation, Reuters staff, alongside Kenya Red Cross responders, recovered the body of a local egg seller under a vehicle overturned by floodwaters. Known for early-morning rounds in his neighborhood, the man's body was found as torrents carried roadside debris downstream.

Key thoroughfares, including Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway, Kirinyaga Road, and parts of the Westlands district, were underwater, with stalled vehicles and fast-moving floodwaters creating havoc. Authorities advised residents to avoid flooded streets and drainage channels while emergency responders assisted stranded motorists and pedestrians.

The Kenya Meteorological Department earlier warned of prolonged heavy rainfall, cautioning about urban flooding, poor visibility, and rising river levels through March 9. Nairobi, along with regions such as the Central Highlands, Lake Victoria Basin, and the coastal areas, remains under heightened alert for peak rainfall in the coming days.

Production: Thomas Mukoya, Mukelwa Hlatshwayo/Reuters

A member of the Kenya Red Cross stands atop a car in search of bodies trapped in the wreckages of vehicles destroyed following heavy rainfall in the Grogan area, popular for automotive workshops and secondhand spare parts in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya