Nearly two years after the devastating floods swept through Nairobi’s informal settlements, many families continue to live with the trauma of loss and uncertainty. Among them is Stella Nabiru, who lost her young daughter during the 2024 floods that inundated Kitui Village in Majengo, Kamukunji.
Stella, a migrant from Uganda who settled in Nairobi in 2023, left her daughter at a local daycare before going to work. When she returned that night, floodwaters had swallowed homes, pathways, and the daycare itself. Despite exhaustive searches, her daughter remains missing.
"I have never been able to bury my child," Stella says. "There was nothing to bury." The tragedy was compounded by the disappearance of the daycare operator, who fled the area after the floods, leaving families without answers.
The floods not only claimed lives but also destroyed property and livelihoods. Stella lost all her possessions and now survives on irregular casual work, often struggling to afford food and shelter. Many displaced families live in partially demolished buildings without basic services, paying high rents they can barely afford.
Vulnerabilities Deepened by Lack of Legal Status
The Karamojong community, among the hardest hit, faces additional challenges due to lack of identification documents. Lomongin Jimmy, community chairperson, highlights that many cannot access healthcare or social services without IDs. Pregnant women often give birth at home, and many children have died from flood-related illnesses.
Security is also a concern, with reports of increased sexual violence against women and girls. The community has adopted shared sleeping arrangements to reduce risks.
Worsening Flood Risks and Calls for Long-Term Solutions
The floods in Kamukunji were part of a broader disaster across Kenya, where heavy rains between March and May 2024 caused over 290 deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands nationwide. Nairobi alone saw extensive damage, with thousands displaced and infrastructure affected.
A recent report by the World Resources Institute urges Nairobi to prioritize climate resilience through better urban planning, improved drainage, and community involvement. Without such measures, vulnerable populations like those in Kitui Village remain at high risk.
For survivors like Stella, every dark cloud and rainfall revives the anguish of loss and the fear of another disaster. "When it rains, nobody sleeps," she says. "If someone shouts 'water, water', everyone starts running."
