Rains turning Nairobi CBD streets into rivers

Residents of Nairobi who work in the Central Business District and the downtown area want the city’s drainage revamped once and for all.

The residents were on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, forced to wade through dirty rain water that had  covered large parts of the roads, footpaths and verandas.

The rain lasted only a few minutes – about 30 minutes at around 4pm – but left half of the Central Business District ‘flooded’.

Office workers had to remove their shoes and wade through the floods – with many unable to access their vehicles.

Anthony Mumo who works in the CBD was left stranded along Kenyatta Avenue following the brief rains.

“I was unable to access my car because the parking area adjacent to the road was flooded. This is very embarrassing for a city of this status,” said Mumo.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Meteorological department has asked residents of Nairobi and its surroundings to brace themselves for sustained showers and thunderstorms in the coming days.

Residents now want Nairobi County leadership to address the perennial drainage and flooding problem in the capital.