Flood havoc in Nairobi: Key roads impassable, homes affected, people displaced
By Paulette Mboga, March 7, 2026The ongoing heavy rains have caused severe flooding in several parts of Nairobi and surrounding areas, forcing road closures and leaving commuters stranded.
The Kenya Red Cross on Friday, March 6, 2026, reported that the floods have also caused property damage, displacement, and distress among affected communities.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, affected areas include Pipeline and Embakasi, where Kware Road has been cut off, Mukuru (Kwa Njenga, Reuben, Viwandani), Kibra, Mathare, Huruma, Baba Dogo, Bosnia, South B and South C, Nairobi West, Lang’ata, Umoja 3, Chokaa, Njiru, Ruai, Utawala, Roysambu, Kahawa West, Githurai, Loresho, and parts of Westlands.
Major roads have been submerged, disrupting traffic across the city. Sections of CBD roads, Uhuru Highway, Mbagathi Way, Mombasa Road from South C to the JKIA exit at Kyumbi, Thika Superhighway from Githurai to Kahawa Sukari, Jogoo Road, Lunga Lunga Road, Enterprise Road, and Lang’ata Road near T-Mall have all been affected.
Severe traffic chaos
Several vehicles were left partially underwater as the flooding worsened, causing massive traffic jams across the Nairobi Metropolitan. Commuters struggled to reach their destinations.
Videos seen by K24 Digital shows motorists navigating through flooded streets with difficulty, while many were forced to abandon their vehicles.
Media personality and event MC James Muiri, widely known as MC Jimmie Kajim, described the situation on Lang’ata Road as chaotic.
“Langata Road right now is a mess, with a whole river flowing on the highway. Nairobi rains are something else! Lang’ata Road is messy; it’s literally like a river flowing on the highway,” Kajim lamented.
Residents reported delays of several hours due to the flooding, with some areas completely cut off from the rest of the city. Many have expressed frustration at the lack of preparedness for the annual rains.
Since the start of the heavy rains, the Kenya Red Cross has also called for communities to stay alert and take precautions as more rain is expected.
The floods have highlighted the vulnerability of Nairobi’s road infrastructure and the need for better drainage and emergency response systems. Commuters continue to face challenges as the city grapples with the impact of heavy rainfall.