Living on roofs, swimming in highways : Painful aftermath as rains sink city and its environs

Heavy rains that have continued to pound Nairobi and its environs have left a distasteful aftermath as homes and highways have been submerged for days with the Tuesday night rains exacerbating the situation.

As of Wednesday morning, Citizen Digital has obtained distressing images showing neighbourhoods that harbor a large populace and major roads marooned with floods and residents forced to scamper for safety.

The rains have also seen main rivers breaking their banks among them Nairobi River, and Athi River.

Starting with Mathare, most parts of the area sunk in water even forcing residents to climb on top of their roofs in the wee hours of Wednesday morning as the torrential rains fell.

According to reports the waters roared inside people's homes after the Nairobi River broke its banks.

Residents are now trying to salvage their household items as a search has been launched to establish the whereabouts of ten residents who are feared to have been swept away by the floods.

Kenya Red Cross officials are on the ground undertaking rescue operations.

Across the city, parts of the Thika Super Highway were also submerged in water as parts of the key highway were even rendered impassable.

Citizen Digital has established that most motorists have been forced to make a U-turn at the Juja underpass as water levels have significantly risen.

Other areas include parts Ruaka, Mlolongo, Imaara Daima, Langata Road and others.

A short clip showed most single-storied homes submerged halfway by water and no access and exit points were visible.

In Athi River, after the river broke its banks, roads and homesteads were marooned paralysing all activities in the area.

The Nairobi CBD was also not spared as the heavy rains felled two of the oldest trees near the Nairobi Sports House and Imenti House, blocking a key passage into the business hub.

As a result, the intersection at Moi Avenue and Kenyatta Avenue has remained cordoned off until the two gigantic trees are extracted from the area.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has held an emergency meeting with the Nairobi Rivers Commission where he has announced that plans to relocate residents from riparian areas are underway.