At least two people have lost their lives in Bomet County as the country experienced intense rains, with the Coast, North Eastern, Central and parts of Western regions being the hardest hit.
On Saturday, Kenyans woke up to enhanced rainfall in most regions as it continued to wreak havoc, displacing hundreds from their homes and destroying infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
In Bomet, the two victims were discovered in the morning after being buried in the mudslide that hit an area where a petrol station was being built nearby.
"The two middle-aged men were sleeping when the incident occurred at Silibwet trading centre in Bomet Central constituency," said Musa Imamai, the Bomet Sub County Police Commander.
Mr Imamai said the bodies of the victims, who were living in a makeshift iron-roofed and wooden-walled structure that was destroyed, had been taken to Longisa Sub-county Hospital for preservation before post-mortem examination and release to next of kin for burial.
Two people killed in a mudslide after heavy rains pounded Bomet County on January 13, 2024.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
It comes days after a bridge in Chepalungu Constituency was washed away by floods, causing major traffic disruption in the area.
A makeshift footbridge has been built by residents to cross the Nyangores River in the Kipsegon area, where a Chinese contractor - China Civil Engineering - has suspended construction of a motorable bridge due to heavy rains.
In Nairobi, major roads were impassable as commuters in the capital braved heavy rains Friday evening and early Saturday morning, causing traffic to snarl.
Houses marooned by floods in Mukuru-Kayaba slum of Nairobi after heavy rains hit the city on January 13, 2024.
Photo credit: Sammy Kimatu | Nation Media Group
In the Mukuru-Kayaba slum in South B, residents were forced to seek shelter after the Ngong River burst its banks, making the Kayaba/Hazina bridge impassable.
Speaking to nation.africa, Starehe Deputy County Commissioner John Kisang advised residents to move to designated rescue centres for safety after a Kenya Power cable was seen sagging near the overflowing river.
A vegetable kiosk in Mukuru kwa Njenga slum after last Friday night's heavy rains left the roads in the slum impassable due to poor drainage.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media GRoup
Motorists were also unable to access Enterprise Road, which links Mombasa Road via the Kayaba/Hazina Bridge.
In Tharaka-Nithi County, a heavy downpour was reported Saturday night in parts of the county bordering Mount Kenya forest.
In Kajiado, dozens of families from Noonkopir village on the outskirts of Kitengela town were displaced by flash floods on Friday night following heavy rains.
The affected families lived in semi-permanent houses near a seasonal river that cuts through their village.
A flooded section of Mombasa Road between Bellevue and Nexgen Mall on January 13, 2024.
Photo credit: . Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
The victims, who were trying to come to terms with their loss on Saturday morning, told the Nation that most of them had spent the night outside when their houses were submerged by the raging floodwaters.
According to Mr David Sumiyu, his family spent the night in the open after their iron-sheet rented houses were hit by flash floods.
"There was a loud bang and soon the whole house was filled with flash floods that kept rising. It was the worst experience," said Mr Simiyu.
Motorists manoeuvre through a flooded section of Mombasa Road between Bellevue and Nexgen Mall in Nairobi on January 13, 2024
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
Several feeder roads in Kitengela town were also affected by the floods, disrupting the normal flow of traffic and causing severe traffic congestion for hours.
On Saturday, the Kenya Red Cross officials, along with the local administration, visited the affected villages and recorded the details of affected families.
Noonkopir Sub Location Assistant Chief James Kahiga urged families living near the river to move to safer areas.
Motorists drive through a flooded section of Mombasa Road between Bellevue and Nexgen Mall in Nairobi on January 13, 2024
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
"Families living near flood-prone areas should relocate to safer places to avoid deaths," said Mr Kahiga.
Forecasts from the Kenya Meteorological Department indicate that the rains will continue in several parts of the country,
The Met department said on Friday that rains are expected in the western region, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the central highlands including Nairobi, the south-east and the south coast.
Motorists drive through a flooded section of Lower Hill Road at the junction of Haile Sellasie Avenue as heavy rains hit the city.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
The weather forecast for January 2024 indicates that the highlands east of the Rift Valley and central Kenya are likely to experience occasional rains with some breaks during the month.
By Hilary Kimuyu, Vitalis Kimutai, Sammy Kimatu and Alex Njeru
