Nairobi experienced flooding in several areas on Saturday, October 31, after heavy rainfall left roads waterlogged and disrupted traffic.
First Avenue in Parklands was among the affected areas, with flooding reported near Oshwal School after morning showers, and Motorists were seen driving through accumulated water.
The Parklands Residents Association raised concerns over the flooding, questioning how the city would cope with heavier and prolonged rainfall expected during the El Niño season.
“And boom 1st Avenue at Oshwal school has flooded with just a drop of downpour. Now imagine the real full blown El Niño coming our way,” the association stated.
The situation was also witnessed in Githurai, where heavy flooding affected the roundabout. Images seen by The Kenya Times showed motorists and motorcyclists attempting to navigate through sections covered by water.
On Waiyaki Way in Westlands, a City Shuttle bus got stuck in a ditch following the heavy rainfall, further illustrating the disruption caused by the downpour.
The incidents have renewed concerns about Nairobi’s drainage systems and their ability to cope with heavier rainfall, with residents likely to face greater challenges if the anticipated El Niño rains intensify.
Kenya Met Forecasts More Rain Across 44 Counties
The Kenya Meteorological Department had warned of more rainfall across much of the country, with Nairobi among 44 counties expected to receive showers on Saturday.
In its daily weather forecast issued on Friday, October 30, the department listed Mandera, Turkana and Marsabit as the only counties expected to remain dry throughout Saturday.
The forecast indicated that Nairobi would experience sunny intervals in the morning, followed by light showers and thunderstorms in a few places during the afternoon. Temperatures were expected to range between 17°C and 28°C.
The department also forecast thunderstorms across parts of western Kenya, the Rift Valley, central Kenya and the southern region.
In a separate five-day forecast covering October 31 to November 4, the weatherman predicted moderate afternoon showers in Nairobi on Saturday, followed by light showers on Sunday, November 1.
Monday was expected to remain sunny, while light afternoon showers were forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday. Daytime temperatures were expected to reach 29°C to 30°C.
The department classified moderate rainfall as between 5mm and 20mm within 24 hours, while heavy rainfall was defined as 21mm to 50mm over the same period.
Red Cross Reports 302 Households Displaced in Tana River
The flooding has also affected parts of the Coast region, where the Kenya Red Cross reported that 302 households had been displaced in Tana River County following heavy rainfall.
In an update issued on Friday, October 30, the humanitarian organisation said Tulu and Minjila dams in Tana Delta had overflowed, sending water into villages and homes.
“In Tana Delta, Tulu and Minjila dams have overflowed, sending water into villages and homes. 302 households have been displaced and a further 3,156 households affected,” stated Kenya Red Cross.
A further 3,156 households were affected by the flooding, while neighbouring Lamu County also saw rising water levels in some homes in Hindi and Witu.
The Red Cross said 175 of the displaced households had received emergency assistance, including food, tarpaulins and blankets provided by the county and national governments.
The Kenya Red Cross also reported a separate flooding incident in Kajiado South, where one person was reportedly swept away while crossing an overflowing river in Baraka, Olkaria Village, on the night of Friday, October 30.
In an update on October 31, the organisation said search operations were ongoing to locate the missing person. It urged residents to avoid crossing flooded rivers and roads and advised anyone requiring emergency assistance to call its toll-free number, 1199.
The organisation added that its response teams remained on the ground working with partners to assess the situation and support affected families as rainfall continued.
Sakaja Outlines KSh10 Billion Nairobi Flood Prevention Programme
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja outlined a KSh10 billion flood mitigation programme as the county prepares for the expected rains.
While presenting the county’s preparedness report to the National Development Implementation Committee at the Kenya School of Government, Sakaja said the county had made progress in clearing rivers and improving infrastructure.
He reported that 80 per cent of clearance and rehabilitation works along the Nairobi, Mathare and Ngong rivers had been completed.
“We have made significant progress in preparing Nairobi for the El Niño rains, with 80 per cent of clearance and rehabilitation works along the Nairobi, Mathare and Ngong rivers completed alongside Sh5 billion in ongoing infrastructure works,” Sakaja said.
The governor also pointed to KSh5 billion worth of ongoing infrastructure works being undertaken in partnership with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA).
The projects include road rehabilitation, drainage improvements, tarmacking and construction of pedestrian walkways.
Sakaja said the county had encountered large amounts of plastic waste while clearing rivers and waterways, warning that discarded plastics were contributing to blocked drainage systems.
He called on the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to strengthen enforcement against plastic pollution as part of efforts to reduce flooding.
In September, the governor had also announced a KSh2.4 billion flood mitigation programme targeting drainage improvements, river desilting and other interventions.
The county said KSh2 billion of the programme would go towards drainage and flood mitigation works targeting 19 roads in flood-prone areas.
It had also identified 13 major flood hotspots for priority interventions, with plans to work alongside national agencies, the Kenya Red Cross and the Nairobi Rivers Commission.
El Niño Forecast Remains in Place Despite Delayed Rains
The flooding comes as Kenya prepares for the October-December 2026 short rains season, which meteorologists have forecast to bring above-average rainfall across most parts of the country.
The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) said in its August 18 seasonal outlook that El Niño had developed in the Pacific Ocean and was expected to strengthen during the remainder of 2026.
The regional forecasting agency projected a 90 per cent chance of enhanced rainfall over southern Ethiopia, central and southern Somalia and northeastern Kenya. It also identified parts of central Kenya and the Lake Victoria Basin as areas with a high likelihood of receiving more than 400mm of seasonal rainfall.
However, the expected rainfall has not started uniformly across the country.
During a scientific briefing on October 16, Kenya Meteorological Department officials reaffirmed the seasonal outlook, explaining that delayed rainfall in some areas did not mean the forecast had changed.
Jemimah Ongoma of the department said the El Niño conditions had already been established in the Pacific, while forecasters were monitoring the onset of the short rains in areas that had yet to receive them.
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