NAIROBI — Kenya’s National Police Service confirmed on Sunday that at least 18 people have died as torrential rains continue to batter several regions, triggering devastating landslides and flash floods. The ongoing downpours, marking the peak of the "long rains" season, have displaced hundreds of families and caused significant damage to critical infrastructure across the country. The National Police Service reported that the most severe incidents occurred in central and eastern Kenya, with mudslides specifically documented in Tharaka Nithi, Elgeyo-Marakwet, and Kiambu counties. In these areas, homes were leveled, forcing entire households to flee to higher ground following days of sustained, heavy precipitation.
Multi-agency response units, including police and emergency services, have been deployed to the hardest-hit areas to conduct search and rescue operations. These teams are also managing the evacuation of residents from high-risk zones and coordinating the distribution of emergency relief supplies. Government officials are currently mapping vulnerable areas to issue more localized warnings and prevent further loss of life as the rains show little sign of abating. The current weather crisis follows a particularly deadly start to the year; earlier reports from mid-March indicated that 71 people had already died nationwide, including 36 fatalities in Nairobi alone due to overflowing rivers and poor urban drainage.
Police and meteorological experts have urged residents in landslide-prone and low-lying regions to remain on high alert and strictly adhere to safety advisories. Motorists have been cautioned against attempting to cross flooded roads or bridges, which have already seen a high number of washouts and structural failures in the eastern and coastal regions. As the rainy season typically runs through May, authorities are focusing on stabilizing displaced populations and mitigating the humanitarian impact of the ongoing floods in highland and urban areas alike.
