Ruto Orders Emergency Response As Deadly Floods Hit Nairobi And Other Regions
News Updated: 07 March 2026 19:45 EAT
President William Samoei Ruto congratulates President of the Republic of Uganda, on his appointment as the new EAC Chairperson.
President William Samoei Ruto has ordered the immediate deployment of a multi-agency emergency response team to coordinate rescue and relief operations following deadly floods that struck Nairobi and other parts of the country after heavy overnight rains.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the President directed the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, working alongside the Kenya Defence Forces and other emergency agencies, to lead rescue missions and assist communities affected by the flooding.
The government has also mobilised national and county resources as emergency teams respond to distress calls, evacuate residents from flooded neighbourhoods and assess damage caused by the intense rainfall across the capital and surrounding regions.
President Ruto expressed condolences to families who lost loved ones during the disaster, describing the floods as a tragedy that has caused deaths, displacement of residents and widespread destruction of homes, property and livelihoods.
Authorities say the flooding has affected several neighbourhoods across Nairobi, including informal settlements and densely populated estates where rising water levels forced many residents to flee their homes overnight.
Major roads in the capital, including sections of Uhuru Highway, Mombasa Road, Jogoo Road, Enterprise Road, Lang’ata Road and the Thika Superhighway, were partially submerged, causing severe traffic disruption and slowing emergency response operations.
The President also announced that the national government will cover hospital bills for people injured or affected by the flooding and currently receiving treatment in public health facilities as part of efforts to support affected families.
In addition, the government has ordered the immediate release of relief food from national strategic reserves to assist households displaced or facing hardship following the floods.
Security agencies and rescue teams, including police officers and humanitarian organisations, remain deployed across affected areas, with authorities reporting that dozens of residents have already been rescued from flood-stricken locations.
The national government is working closely with county administrations, including Nairobi City County, to ensure a coordinated response aimed at protecting lives, restoring services and delivering humanitarian support to communities hit by the disaster.
President Ruto also noted that the flooding highlights the need for long-term urban planning solutions, pointing to ongoing programmes such as the Nairobi River regeneration initiative aimed at improving drainage systems and reducing flood risks in the capital.
The disaster follows warnings from the Kenya Meteorological Department that heavy rainfall could continue across several parts of the country, raising concerns about further flooding as emergency teams remain on high alert.
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FELIX MAKONA
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