The Kenyan government on Saturday said 62 people lost their lives following heavy rains and flooding across the country in the past week.

In a notice shared on X, the country’s Ministry of Interior and National Administration said 46 men, eight women and eight children died due to the widespread flooding.

Stating the impact of the heavy rains, the ministry disclosed that 18 counties were affected, that nine people are missing, and that 12,338 homes have been displaced.

“The National Disaster Management Unit has confirmed the number of fatalities from floods has risen to 62, including 46 men, eight women, and eight children,” the ministry said.

The ministry noted that Nairobi recorded 33 casualties, the Eastern region had 17 fatalities, and the Rift Valley region had seven.

“Elsewhere, Nyanza and the Coast regions have each recorded two, and the Central region has reported one fatality. Several regions of the country continue to experience heavy rainfall,” the ministry stated.

The ministry stated that the widespread flooding has made roads and bridges impassable, disrupted school services, damaged water supply lines and caused power outages.

It added that the torrential flooding also damaged infrastructure, including residential areas, farms, businesses, and markets.

The ministry said a mapping exercise conducted under the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Programme identified 37 areas along major river corridors and locations currently vulnerable to flooding. 

The ministry urged residents living near low-lying areas to remain vigilant and prioritise their safety during heavy rainfall.

The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned residents to take caution, forecasting more large-scale rainfall, flash floods, and storm hazards in the early days of the country’s forthcoming rainy season.