Nairobi County headed by Governor Johnson Sakaja has urged Kenyans living near waterways to consider vacating after floods wreaked havoc across the city.
In a detailed press statement signed by the Head of County Public Service Patrick Akivaga, the county revealed that one person was confirmed dead as a result of the flooding while a child was still missing.
They listed the most affected estates as those developed along riparian land.
Specifically, the county mapped out the most affected estates including those surrounding Ngong River such as Mbagathi Roundabout, Ectoville Industrial Estate in Mukuru kwa Rueben Ward and Mwiki Ward along Eastern Bypass.
Other areas include churches and residential areas along Mau mau River as well as at the Kiambiu informal settlement in Starehe Sub-county where at least 10 households have been affected.
Estates along a bridge in Nairobi's Mukuru-Kayaba Slum in South B were also affected after the bridge was swept away.
"Majority of the flooding witnessed is in estates, buildings and other structures developed in the past years on top of rivers, along riparian reserves, and reclaimed river sections. We urge all those who have built in these areas to vacate," read the statement.
"The County will commence and effort to open up rivers where they have been encroached to reduce the impact of excess waters."
A number of roads were also affected, disrupting traffic and human movement especially Raila Odinga Road and Langata Road junction (near T-Mall) that flooded due to huge volumes of water as a result of Ngong River bursting its banks.
Other roads were also affected including; Uhuru Highway, Enterprise Road, Ole Dume Road, Ojijo Road, Langata South Road, James Gichuru and many others.
The county has revealed works on the drainage system are already bearing fruit since the water is now flowing in some of the estates.
"We have seen the destruction of property across the city. In response to the current situation, our emergency teams, led by the Disaster Management Department, are actively engaged in the relief efforts in affected areas," added Akivaga.
"We are coordinating closely with all relevant authorities and agencies including the National Government, National Police Service, and the Red Cross, to ensure the safety and well-being of our people and property."
The Kenya Meteorological Department earlier issued a warning that several areas will experience a high amount of rainfall including; the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the South-eastern lowlands, the Coast and Northeastern Kenya.
