Tragedy in Nairobi: Mother and Two Children Among Six Killed in Devastating Floods
Nairobi is in mourning after heavy overnight rains triggered deadly floods across the city, claiming six lives and displacing hundreds more. Among the deceased are a mother and her two children, who were crushed by a falling boulder in Mathare 4A—a tragic reminder of the mounting dangers residents in informal settlements face during the rainy season.
According to witnesses, the massive rock dislodged from a hillside weakened by floodwaters around 7:30pm, crashing onto the family’s home while they slept. The woman, who had recently relocated from Mombasa, died instantly with her children. Her husband, who was away at the time, returned to find his family gone.
“This is not the first time people have died from falling rocks during the rainy season,” said Irene Nyabega, a longtime Mathare resident. “Even last year in April, people died. Tonight, we don’t know where we’ll sleep.”
Neighbour Shem Odongo described a night of chaos and heartbreak, as residents labored to clear rubble and recover the victims. “The mother had no head,” he said, recalling the horror of the rescue.
Elsewhere in the city, tragedy struck in Mukuru Kwa Reuben, where a flash flood claimed one life and left over 500 residents displaced. Witnesses said a boda boda passenger was swept away by raging waters, while the rider narrowly escaped.
Residents expressed anger and disappointment at the Nairobi County Government, accusing it of abandoning crucial drainage projects. “They came here in May last year and promised to build proper drainage,” one Mukuru resident said. “They started the work but left it halfway—and never came back.”
In other parts of the city, two more bodies were recovered: one from the Ngong River at Likoni Bridge in South B and another along Jogoo Road, pushing the confirmed death toll from the floods to six.
As Nairobi grapples with the aftermath, the Kenya Meteorological Department has issued renewed warnings of more rainfall in the coming days. Officials urge those in flood-prone areas to remain alert and take all necessary precautions.
The growing number of fatalities and displacements underscores the urgent need for comprehensive flood mitigation measures, improved urban planning, and disaster response strategies—especially in Nairobi’s most vulnerable communities.
In other news:Weatherman Warns Kenyans to Brace for Floods as Heavy Rains Pound the Nation
Tragedy in Nairobi: Mother and Two Children Among Six Killed in Devastating Floods