Ruto orders multi-agency response, release of relief food after deadly Nairobi floods

President William Ruto has ordered the immediate deployment of a multi-agency emergency response team and the release of relief food from national strategic reserves following deadly floods that struck Nairobi and other parts of the country on Friday night.

In a statement issued on Saturday afternoon, the President said the emergency team, led by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration and working alongside the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and other response agencies, will coordinate rescue efforts, support affected communities and evacuate residents from areas still at risk.

Ruto also directed that relief food be urgently distributed to families affected by the flooding, while the government takes responsibility for hospital bills for victims currently receiving treatment in public health facilities.

“The government stands in solidarity with every citizen affected, and we are acting swiftly to alleviate further suffering and safeguard lives,” the President said.

“The government will meet the hospital bills of those injured or affected by the flooding and currently receiving treatment in public health facilities. Emergency humanitarian support will also be extended to families facing displacement and hardship during this period.”

He added that the national and county governments are working together to ensure a coordinated response that prioritises the safety and wellbeing of citizens.

Ruto noted that the tragedy underscores the need for lasting solutions to recurring flooding in urban areas, pointing to the government’s Nairobi River Regeneration Programme as a key long-term intervention.

“At the same time, we recognise that these floods once again highlight the urgent need for lasting solutions to the perennial challenge of flooding in our urban areas,” he said.

“The ongoing Nairobi River Regeneration Programme remains a critical part of our long-term strategy to restore river ecosystems, improve drainage systems, and reduce the risks associated with flooding within the city. These efforts will be strengthened and accelerated as part of our commitment to protecting lives, property, and the environment.”

The directives come after devastating overnight rains on Friday caused widespread flooding across Nairobi, leaving at least 23 people dead and forcing emergency teams to carry out rescue operations in several parts of the city.

According to the National Police Service, at least 29 people were rescued during the operations as authorities responded to distress calls across affected estates.

The floods hit multiple neighbourhoods including Mukuru, Kibra, Mathare, Huruma, South B, South C, Pipeline in Embakasi, Roysambu, Kahawa West, Githurai and parts of Westlands, where homes were inundated and residents displaced.

Several major roads were also rendered impassable as floodwaters swept through the city, disrupting traffic along sections of Uhuru Highway, Mombasa Road, Thika Superhighway, Jogoo Road, Enterprise Road and Lang’ata Road.

Police said response teams remain deployed across the city as search and rescue operations continue amid ongoing rains.