Flood death toll rises to 62 as Nairobi records highest fatalities

The death toll from the floods that struck Nairobi and other regions across the country on Friday night has now risen to 62.

This is according to a fresh update issued by the Ministry of Interior, which noted that the victims include 46 men, 8 women, and 8 children.

The ministry further noted that Nairobi has the highest number of deaths at 33, followed by the Eastern region with 17 and Rift Valley region with 7.

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

Previously released figures from the government showed that the floods affected more than 10,000 households, with 4,845 people displaced and forced to seek shelter in safer areas.

In Nairobi, the county government announced a one-month waiver on levies and approvals required for property repair works following the heavy rains and flooding in the capital.

In a public notice issued on Wednesday, March 11, Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali said the move was aimed at enabling residents and businesses to quickly restore properties damaged by the floods.

Akumali explained that the waiver applies to levies and approvals that are normally required before residents undertake repair and maintenance works on their properties.

The heavy rains overwhelmed drainage systems in several neighbourhoods including South C, South B and Nairobi West, leaving roads submerged and disrupting transport.

A multi-agency team comprising the National Police Service and the Kenya Red Cross Society has since been coordinating field operations to enhance response efforts in Nairobi. 

During a recent interview on Citizen TV, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja noted that the city's drainage problem couldn't be solved by a quick fix, opining that he has the best remedy to develop Nairobi to international standards with the appropriate financing.