Heavy overnight precipitation has immobilized travel throughout Nairobi, with major transport arteries becoming unnavigable and commuters finding themselves trapped for extended periods.
The most severely affected section is Mombasa Road, where inundation between Mlolongo and Cabanas brought vehicular movement to a complete halt early on Saturday, May 1. Eyewitness accounts indicate traffic is backed up nearly 3 kilometers from Ole Sereni to The Standard Media Group vicinity.
Visual documentation reveals the deluge has immobilized trucks and other vehicles, with flooding reported as far as Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Commuters have described being immobilized along the highway since early morning, many voicing their discontent following the overnight rainfall.
Reports confirm the Easter Bypass is also entirely obstructed, with drivers advised to utilize the Nairobi Expressway. Conversely, traffic congestion begins from Nairobi CBD extending all the way to Athi River.
Simultaneously, significant flooding has been documented along Jogoo Road at the Makadara vicinity and the Church Army roundabout.
In the capital’s central district, chaos prevails as Landhies Road, which links the OTC stage and the Kamukunji area, is underwater.
According to video and photographic evidence, the Muthurwa Footbridge has exceeded its capacity, with waters inundating the roadway.
Some reports indicate the Nairobi Commuter train traveling from Syokimau to Nairobi was unable to proceed beyond the Imara Daima Station due to flooding overwhelming the railway tracks.
Along Lang’ata Road at the T-Mall area, a recurrent flood-prone location, the road remained unnavigable this morning, with waters subsiding before 7am.
Witnesses reported at least two vehicles descending into a ditch near the Shell Petrol Station, with one truck completely submerging into the drainage system. Law enforcement authorities responded to the occurrence.
The Kenya Red Cross, while acknowledging the turmoil resulting from the overnight rainfall, stated its Nairobi team is addressing incidents from Mukuru kwa Njenga, where unconfirmed reports exist of missing individuals and households isolated by the floods.
The full extent of the overnight precipitation damage remains undetermined, though the National Police Service had cautioned Nairobi residents to maintain heightened vigilance, particularly those residing near riverbanks.
“Within Nairobi, the situation is further complicated by rapidly increasing water levels in major rivers, including the Nairobi, Mathare, Ngong, Kamiti and Athi rivers. These watercourses all drain into the larger Athi River system, which is currently flowing at dangerously elevated levels,”
is still evaluating the impact on flood-susceptible residential areas in and around Nairobi, including Lang’ata, Ngara, Madaraka, Eastleigh, Kawangware, Kibera, South C, Kasarani, Mathare, Mlolongo, and Syokimau.