Kenyan President William Ruto has declared Friday a national holiday dedicated to honoring the 238 victims of the floods that have struck the country.
Bulldozers have demolished houses in the informal settlements of Mathare and Mukuru in Nairobi, Kenya, as the deadline for residents to evacuate these flood-prone areas expired. Over 40,000 households have been forced to leave their homes due to the floods, which have also disrupted economic activity in several cities.
In Kiambu, Charles Otieno, owner of an auto repair workshop, wades through puddles of water to attend to his clients, making a determined effort to provide for his family.
“We are stranded. I have a garage, and since the rain started, which has been three weeks now, my vehicles are here. They are stuck, and I have nothing to eat,” he explains.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has issued warnings, indicating that the rains will persist until the end of May.