Flash floods in Nairobi have killed at least 23 people, swept away dozens of vehicles and disrupted flights at East Africa’s busiest airport, authorities said on Saturday. Rescue teams recovered bodies from floodwaters after heavy overnight rains caused widespread devastation.

William Ruto deployed emergency responders, including military personnel, to coordinate rescue operations. In a statement, he expressed condolences to affected families and ordered the immediate distribution of relief food from national reserves to those impacted by the disaster.

In the Grogan industrial area, security guard John Lomayan described witnessing the body of an elderly egg seller he recognised trapped beneath a vehicle washed away by the overflowing Nairobi River. “I saw him being carried by the water… We didn’t know where he went. Now we see him under the car,” he said. A bus driver, John Mwai, turned his vehicle into a makeshift rescue shuttle to transport people to safer ground.

National carrier Kenya Airways confirmed that heavy rains disrupted flights to Nairobi, forcing some aircraft to divert to Mombasa. The flooding affected operations at the country’s main international airport, causing delays and cancellations.

Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying extreme weather in Kenya and across East Africa, leading to more severe floods and droughts. A 2024 study on weather patterns found that global warming has doubled the likelihood of devastating rainfall events in the region.

A Reuters reporter observed bodies being recovered from beneath submerged vehicles, while authorities said some victims were electrocuted after power lines were damaged. Kenya Power reported that flooding had affected equipment at a substation, impacting electricity supply in 14 neighbourhoods.

Resident Cedric Mwanza described the scale of destruction: “So many cars, so much stuff… everything was washed away. All the water came from the river.”

Authorities continue rescue and recovery operations as the full extent of the damage becomes clear.