Ruto assures Kenyans of government response as heavy rains cause flooding

President William Ruto assured Kenyans that the government is fully mobilised to respond to the ongoing heavy rains that have caused flooding in several parts of the country.

In a statement on Sunday, he said the persistent rains continue to pose a threat to lives and livelihoods, expressing sympathy with families and communities already affected by the situation.

“I want to assure all Kenyans that the Government remains fully mobilised to respond,” Ruto said.

He revealed that he had directed the activation of a multi-agency response bringing together emergency services, security agencies, humanitarian teams and technical departments to coordinate relief efforts in Nairobi and other affected regions across the country.

He said government agencies are currently assisting in rescue and evacuation operations, clearing blocked drainage systems and restoring access routes in areas affected by flooding.

Ruto added that the national government is working closely with county governments to ensure the safety of residents, noting that emergency food supplies and medical assistance are already being delivered to affected communities.

He also urged Kenyans to follow safety advisories issued by authorities, including the Kenya Meteorological Department and the police, saying the guidance is intended to help protect lives during the ongoing rains.

“The government will continue to take every necessary step to safeguard lives, support affected communities, and ensure that no Kenyan faces this challenge alone,” he said.

Heavy rainfall pounding Nairobi caused widespread flooding in several parts of the city Saturday night, disrupting transport and prompting rescue operations.

Officials said at least 11 people were rescued in the chaos.

Areas affected by flooding include Parklands, the Central Business District (CBD), Ngong Road around the Ngando area, Lower Kabete, Kibera, Kilimani, South B, Kawangware, Lang’ata, Lavington, Eastleigh and Riruta.

Major traffic disruptions have been reported along several key roads, including the Nairobi Expressway at the Museum Hill exit, Limuru Road, Bunyala Road, Lusaka Road and parts of the CBD, as floodwaters made sections of the roads impassable.

Authorities also reported that both the Nairobi River and the Ngong River have overflowed their banks, triggering riverine flooding in nearby settlements.

Rescue teams from Kenya Red Cross Society have been deployed to respond to emergencies in affected areas.

The organization’s Aqua Rescue teams have so far rescued 11 people who were stranded in a marooned matatu along Bunyala Road.

In a separate incident in Kilimani, two children were also rescued from a house that had been flooded by rising water levels.

Emergency responders remain on the ground monitoring the situation as heavy rains continue, with residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas urged to exercise caution and avoid attempting to cross flooded roads or rivers.

The Met department had warned of the rains and urged agencies to prepare accordingly.

This comes after at least 62 people died following ongoing floods that affected several parts of the country in the past weeks, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration has announced.

According to the latest update from the ministry, the fatalities include 46 men, 8 women and 8 children.

Nairobi recorded the highest number of deaths at 33, accounting for more than half of the total fatalities reported so far.

The Eastern region follows with 17 deaths, while the Rift Valley region has recorded 7 fatalities.

Both the Nyanza and Coast regions have reported two deaths each, while the Central region has recorded one fatality.

Authorities say emergency response teams continue to monitor the situation as heavy rains persist in several areas, raising concerns about further flooding and displacement.

The Ministry urged residents living in flood-prone areas to remain vigilant and follow safety advisories issued by government agencies and disaster response teams.

Officials are also working with local authorities and humanitarian partners to support affected families and assess the extent of damage caused by the floods.

The floods in Nairobi damaged dozens of cars.

Several houses were also flooded and damaged.