A motorist manoeuvres through a flooded path following the heavy downpour at Parklands avenue, Nairobi on March 8, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAI


Heavy rainfall that pounded parts of Nairobi on Friday has left flooded streets, damaged infrastructure and piles of waste in several neighbourhoods as residents struggled to move through waterlogged roads.

At Riverside in Kariokor, waste accumulated along drainage channels after the heavy downpour, raising concerns about blocked drainage systems in the area.

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Waste accumulation following the heavy downpour at Riverside, Kariokor on March 8, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAI

In Parklands, pedestrians and motorists were forced to manoeuvre through flooded sections of Parklands First Avenue and Parklands Avenue as storm water covered parts of the roads.

A section of the Visa Oshwal junior and primary school wall that collapsed due to the heavy downpour on March 8, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAI

Waste accumulation following the heavy downpour at Riverside, Kariokor on March 8, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAI

The rains also caused structural damage at Visa Oshwal Junior and Primary School, where a section of the school’s perimeter wall collapsed following the downpour.

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A motorist manoeuvres through a flooded path following the heavy downpour at Parklands avenue, Nairobi on March 8, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAI

Nairobi frequently experiences flooding during periods of intense rainfall, largely linked to inadequate drainage systems and blocked waterways.

A man pictured manoeuvring on a flooded path following the heavy rainfall witnessed along Parklands first avenue, Nairobi on March 8, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAI

Jeff Makotsi guides a motorist through a flooded path along Parklands avenue, Nairobi on March 8, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAI

According to the Kenya Meteorological Department, the country is currently experiencing the March–May long rains season, which often brings heavy showers, thunderstorms, and localized flooding in urban centres.

The agency has previously warned that intense rainfall can overwhelm drainage infrastructure, especially in densely built areas.

City authorities have repeatedly urged residents and businesses to avoid dumping waste in drainage channels, saying blocked drains worsen flooding during heavy rains and increase risks to pedestrians, motorists and nearby buildings