Torrential rains kill 81 in March, Kenya officials say
"The cumulative number of fatalities has unfortunately risen to 81," national police spokesman Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement.
A resident carries her belongings as she walks through a flooded area in West Nyakach, Kisumu County, on March 22, 2026. (Photos by AFP)
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NAIROBI — Torrential storms that have triggered flash floods in Kenya have killed at least 81 people this month, authorities said Sunday, as rain continued to pound much of the country.
"The cumulative number of fatalities has unfortunately risen to 81," national police spokesman Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement.
"Additionally, flash floods have swept through several areas, displacing approximately 2,690 families and causing widespread destruction of infrastructure and property."
The capital, Nairobi, is the hardest-hit region, with 37 people killed, he said.
The dam has held so far.
Two people drowned overnight in floods in the town of Kiambu, just outside the capital, police told AFP.
Two also died as landslides hit the western village of Kasaka, burying numerous homes, reported private broadcaster Citizen TV.
Residents carry their belongings as they walk through a flooded area in West Nyakach, Kisumu County, on March 22, 2026.
The rain is forecast to continue until Tuesday. Authorities called for "extreme caution".
The March rains have repeatedly turned Nairobi streets into raging rivers, flooding thousands of homes and businesses.
Critics have called for the resignation of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who had vowed to improve the capital's drainage and road infrastructure when he took office in 2022.
Scientists say human-caused climate change is increasing the probability, length and severity of extreme weather events.
Studies indicate east Africa has been hit by more extreme rains and droughts over the past two decades.