Military Deployed in Nairobi Following Deadly Flooding; Eight Confirmed Dead and Travel Paralyzed

At least 8 people are dead and the military has been deployed in Nairobi after heavy rains caused catastrophic flooding, flight diversions, and transit chaos.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 7, 2026, 4:09 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from the The Irish News

Fatalities and Infrastructure Damage in the Capital

Nairobi is grappling with a humanitarian and logistical crisis following a night of relentless rainfall that began Friday and intensified Saturday morning. George Seda, the Nairobi Chief of Police, confirmed that at least eight people have lost their lives—six by drowning and two by electrocution. Authorities have warned that the death toll is likely to rise as search and rescue teams navigate submerged neighborhoods. Beyond the loss of life, the physical toll on the city is immense; over 100 vehicles were damaged or overturned, and major arterial roads have been rendered impassable, effectively cutting off several districts from emergency aid.

Military Intervention and Rescue Efforts

In response to the scale of the disaster, the Kenyan government has deployed a military rescue unit to support the Kenya Red Cross and other emergency services. The intervention became necessary as standard response units found themselves trapped in the very gridlock caused by the floods. Kenya Red Cross Secretary-General Ahmed Idris noted that teams were "severely limited" by the disappearance of functional roads under hip-high water. To alleviate some of the congestion, the operator of the city’s elevated toll road waived fees, allowing a small flow of traffic to bypass the most severely flooded ground-level routes.

Chaos in Air and Ground Transport

The flooding has extended its reach to the aviation sector. Kenya Airways reported significant disruptions at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, with several incoming flights diverted to the coastal city of Mombasa. Motorists in the city center and surrounding suburbs reported being stranded for over five hours, with some forced to abandon their vehicles and wade through hazardous waters to reach safety. The Public Service Minister, Geoffrey Ruku, is currently coordinating national disaster response efforts, urging citizens in low-lying areas to move to higher ground immediately.