Kenya Rains Turn Deadly Again: 18 Killed, Thousands Displaced In A Week

At least 18 people have died in Kenya over the past week as heavy rains triggered widespread flooding and landslides , with most deaths caused by drowning, police said. The disaster has affected over 54,000 households nationwide , including around 6,000 in Nairobi , according to government data.

The impact has extended beyond flooding, with landslides reported in Tharaka Nithi, Elgeyo-Marakwet and Kiambu counties , highlighting the expanding scale of the crisis. Entire communities have been displaced, particularly in the Rift Valley, where mudslides have forced thousands to flee their homes .

Critical infrastructure has been severely disrupted. Dozens of schools and hospitals have been inundated , while at least 17 roads have been cut off , hampering rescue and relief operations. Authorities also reported damaged bridges and blocked highways , worsening transport disruptions in several regions.

The government has placed high-risk areas along the Tana River basin on alert , warning that rising water levels in reservoirs and hydroelectric dams could trigger further downstream flooding affecting large populations. Emergency teams, including the Kenya Red Cross , are assisting stranded residents and responding to reports of missing persons in densely populated areas of Nairobi.

The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that enhanced rainfall is expected to continue into mid-May , with risks of waterborne diseases, crop damage, and further displacement .

The ongoing rains are part of Kenya’s March–May wet season, which has already proven deadly. By late March, more than 100 people had died , and the cumulative toll is continuing to rise as extreme weather intensifies, a trend experts increasingly link to climate change.