Kenya Red Cross Secretary-General Idris Ahmed has stated that the death toll from the floods is set to increase as heavy rains persist.

While speaking during an interview with a local media station on Saturday, March 7, 2026, he said that the 28 deaths reported so far as a result of heavy rainfall and floods across the country are expected to rise as more people are rescued from affected areas and the number of casualties continues to grow.

“We anticipate more deaths as rains continue, and then numbers will be rising,” Idris Ahmed stated.

The majority of deaths occurred on the night of Friday, March 6, 2026.

He explained that the situation exceeded what the Kenya Red Cross had anticipated, as the rains caused more havoc than expected. Their rescue teams, according to the SG, were heavily stretched because they had not anticipated such a large-scale impact.

Floods’ effect

Ahmed explained that another factor that delayed their response was the poor condition of the roads, which hindered movement from one location to another. For example, he stated that it took the team two hours to move from South C to Kirinyaga Road, where many casualties were reported, in order to carry out rescue operations.

Going forward, he assured the country that the Red Cross has reorganised its teams and is now better prepared to handle any eventuality. He stated that they currently have three well-trained aqua-response teams ready for deployment anywhere in the capital, equipped with two boats.

Nairobi drainage issues

In Nairobi, which has become the worst-affected area in the country, rainfall levels have been extremely high, reaching up to 160mm.

According to him, even 20mm of rain can overwhelm the city’s drainage system. He attributed the severity of the flooding to urban development and rapid urbanisation, where urban challenges intersect with extreme weather phenomena, resulting in devastating effects in the city, which is currently engulfed in floods.

“Nairobi has being a victim of its own development; it’s the problem of urbanisation, it’s the urban problem meeting with weather phenomena.”