Kenyans brace for deadly El Nino floods as rainy season begins

As Kenya's short rainy season begins, residents living in informal settlements near rivers in Nairobi are bracing for potential extreme weather driven by the El Nino phenomenon. Earlier in the year, intense rains and subsequent flooding caused widespread destruction and claimed dozens of lives across the country, leaving communities vulnerable and fearful of a repeat. In response to the looming threat, cleanup programs have intensified to clear garbage and unclog drainage systems that were widely blamed for trapping excess water during previous floods. Local authorities note that Nairobi's existing drainage infrastructure was built decades ago for a much smaller population and requires substantial investment to fully upgrade and protect residents.