One person swept away as floods hit Kajiado and Nairobi streets flood
Search and rescue teams were still looking for one person on 31 October after floodwaters swept them away in southern Kenya, as heavy rain flooded streets in the capital, Nairobi.
The Kenya Red Cross said the person was swept away while trying to cross an overflowing river at Baraka, Olkaria Village, in Kajiado South, on the night of 30 October. The organisation said search operations were ongoing and did not release the person’s identity. It urged people not to cross flooded rivers and roads, and said anyone needing emergency help could call its toll-free number, 1199.
In Nairobi, morning showers on 31 October left sections of First Avenue in Parklands, near Oshwal School, under water, and flooding was also reported at Githurai Roundabout. Motorists and pedestrians struggled to get through the waterlogged roads, and residents questioned whether the city’s drainage could cope with heavier rain to come.
The flooding arrived early in Kenya’s October-to-December short-rains season. The Kenya Meteorological Department had warned on 25 October of moderate to heavy rainfall, gusty winds and possible flash floods across more than 40 counties, including Kajiado and Nairobi.
Why it matters
The Kajiado incident shows how quickly a flooded river can turn deadly, even before the heaviest rains of the season arrive. Nairobi’s governor, Johnson Sakaja, has previously said the county has identified 227 flood-prone hotspots across the capital’s 17 sub-counties, with around 100,000 residents potentially facing displacement in a worst-case flooding scenario.
The county says 26 of 61 critical drainage sites have been cleared so far, with river desilting and temporary shelters under way. The question now is whether that work is enough, with the weather department forecasting prolonged wet spells and isolated storms across much of the country.
What happens next
Rescue teams will continue searching at Baraka, Olkaria Village, while the Red Cross and the weather department keep issuing updates. Residents in low-lying areas and near rivers have been urged to follow official weather advice, avoid flooded routes and move to safer ground if told to do so.
Sources
- https://capitalfm.africa/one-missing-after-attempting-to-cross-flooded-river-in-kajiado/ (Capital FM, 31 October 2026)
- https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/news/418402/one-person-swept-away-by-floodwaters-in-kajiado-as-rains-pound-nairobi-rift-valley (The Eastleigh Voice, 31 October 2026)
- https://peopledaily.digital/news/kajiado-search-operation-launched-after-person-swept-away-while-crossing-flooded-river (People Daily, 31 October 2026)
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
