Safina deputy party leader and prominent lawyer Willis Otieno has linked the devastating floods that recently hit Nairobi and other parts of Kenya to poor governance and a lack of accountability in urban planning and infrastructure management.

Taking to his official X account on Monday, March 2, 2026, Otieno lamented the impact of poor drainage and planning, saying that the loss of lives and property was a direct result of negligence and systemic leadership failures.

“Let me tell you, and I have always said this, when people of a particular group go on the road to condemn bad governance, the best you can do is to let them exercise their right to picket and demonstrate for the good of the people, simply because bad governance catches up with everyone eventually. Today, it might not bother you because you’re not affected, but when time evolves, you won’t escape the wrath of bad governance!” Otieno stated.

The lawyer described how residents and business owners struggled amid the chaos, with some unable to access workplaces or salvage stock from flooded outlets. He emphasised that citizens’ protests against bad governance should be respected, noting that “bad governance catches up with everyone eventually”.

Otieno’s remarks come amid rising calls for accountability and improved city planning. Critics have conceded that the existing drainage systems were ill-equipped to cope with the intensity of this season’s rains, underscoring the urgent need for long‑term investment, better enforcement of urban planning standards, and strengthened disaster preparedness.

Loss caused by floods

Kenya has been battered by heavy rains, triggering flash floods that the government says have claimed at least 42 lives nationwide, with Nairobi accounting for the majority of fatalities. Officials reported that 26 people died in the capital, where floodwaters submerged entire neighbourhoods, swept away vehicles and homes, and forced mass evacuations.

In other counties, including those in Eastern, Rift Valley, Coast and Nyanza regions, additional deaths were confirmed as rivers burst their banks and low-lying areas were inundated.

Beyond the tragic loss of life, the disaster has inflicted extensive damage on property and infrastructure. Thousands of homes have been submerged or destroyed, more than 50,000 people displaced, and businesses severely disrupted as roads and key transport routes became impassable.

Floodwaters washed away vehicles, damaged utilities and interrupted daily commerce, while rescue operations involving multi-agency teams including the Kenya Red Cross and the Kenya Defence Forces continue.