10 killed as heavy rains strike Nairobi, Kenya

© File/Standard
Sections of Nairobi experienced flooding on Monday night. Heavy rains also rendered many city roads impassable during last month's downpour.

    

At least ten people were killed and seven injured during Monday night's heavy rains in Nairobi.

Eight of the victims were killed after a perimeter wall collapsed on their structures in Mukuru Fuata Nyayo area, South B. Seven others were injured in the incident, in which the wall of a mosque went down following the heavy rains.

Police said two other people were swept away by floods in Dagorretti area and along Jogoo Road. Their bodies were discovered after midnight.

Nairobi police boss Benson Kibui said the wall is believed to have soaked with water before it went down.

"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," said Kibui.

He said among those who died at Fuata Nyayo were two juveniles, four women and two men.

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

Commuters and other motorists in the city were stuck in traffic jams following the heavy downpour that started at 6pm.

The rains led to flooding on major roads, which affected traffic flow since Monday night.

However, Nairobi traffic commandant Edward Mwamburi said most roads' drainage system had improved.

"Unlike in the past when we had bad flooding, this time round the engineers had done better work," said Mwamburi.

He however said some motorists arrived home late after their vehicles were stuck in floods or broke down.

Uhuru Highway, Moi Avenue, Kimathi Street, Kenyatta Avenue and major roads were flooded by 9pm, resulting to heavy traffic jams.

Residents of major slums of Kibera, Mukuru and Mathare were also affected as the rains rendered some of them homeless.

According to the meteorological department the rains are expected to continue for the next month.