Heavy rains in Kenya kill 10, injure seven

At least ten lost their lives while seven others were injured on Monday night following heavy downpours in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

Nairobi County Police Commander Benson Kibui said eight people lost their lives and two others seriously injured after a wall collapsed on kiosks at an informal settlement in Nairobi where a mosque collapsed.

Kibui said the casualties, including a 24-year-old woman and an 8-year-old girl, were rushed to hospital. He said among the dead in South B residential estate were two juveniles, four women and two men.

He said two other people were swept away by floods in two separate locations in the outskirts of Nairobi. Their bodies were discovered after midnight.

“Eight people died while seven others were taken to hospital after the wall collapsed on their structures. There were also two drowning incidents in the city,” Kibui said.

Kibui said the wall is believed to have soaked with water before it went down. Chaotic crowds and flooded roads hampered the rescue operations, making it difficult for ambulances and rescue personnel to access the scene.

The cause of the collapse has not been ascertained, though there are indications that the mosque wall could have been weakened by flooding in the area.

Kibui said there were heavy floods in the city after the rains that lasted over five hours. This is the second time in less than a month that similar flooding is reported in Nairobi.

The rains started pounding several parts of the East African nation in April with renewed intensity with thousands of people already affected and displaced countrywide.

The rains have caused severe destruction to the infrastructure. Bridges have been washed away and roads linking towns cut off, making transportation a nightmare for commuters.

The rains have also left many commuters stranded for days without food. Students going to various schools have also been affected.

Crops in farmlands have also been destroyed amid fears of renewed food needs among the affected communities as a result of crop destruction.

Commuters and other motorists in the city were stuck in traffic jams following the heavy downpour. The downpour led to flooding on major roads, which affected traffic flow since Monday night.

Nairobi traffic commandant Edward Mwamburi said most roads’ drainage system was better.

He, however, said some motorists arrived home late after their vehicles were stuck in floods or broke down. The rains started at about 6pm and lasted close to six hours.

Residents of major slums of Nairobi were also affected after being displaced. According to the meteorological department the rains are expected to continue for the next month.