Kenya Floods

Overview

Beginning on the night of March 6–7, 2026, heavy rainfall caused the Nairobi River to burst its banks, inundating roads across the capital and triggering deadly flash floods. The flooding rapidly spread to affect nearly half of Kenya's 47 counties, including Marsabit, Wajir, Mandera, Tana River, Turkana, Kitui, Meru, Kajiado, Kwale, and Garissa. By late March, at least 110 people had been confirmed dead across 30 counties, with 34,765 people displaced and nearly 7,000 households affected. As of April, the death toll has risen to at least 169 with over 150,000 people displaced. The Kenya Meteorological Department forecasts that April will bring the peak of the rainy season, and the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification projects 3.7 million people will face acute food insecurity between April and June. The IFRC launched a CHF 15 million emergency appeal to support the Kenya Red Cross Society's frontline response, including search and rescue, evacuations, and distribution of emergency relief supplies. Health authorities have warned of increased risks of cholera and malaria from contaminated floodwaters.