School closed over floods as heavy rain pounds Nairobi

Flooded St Elizabeth Primary School in Nairobi following heavy rains. PHOTO | JOAN PERERUAN | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Parts of Jogoo, Lusaka and Lang'ata roads were flooded and motorists were cautioned to be careful.
  • Weather experts have said the rains would continue up to December.

A school in Nairobi County was closed on Thursday after water from a river that burst its banks flooded its compound following heavy rains that pounded most parts of the city.

The managers of the school, a public institution run by the Catholic Church, said the flooding was caused by dumping of soil on the banks of the Mutu-ini Ngong River.

“We had to close down the school for the safety of the pupils and the concern now is what will happen to Kenya Certificate of Primary School candidates, who are to start their exam in November,” Ms Mary Killen, one of the sponsors of the school, told the Nation by phone.

She said they had written letters to Nairobi County officials and the National Environmental Management Authority to complain about the dumping of soil but no action had been taken.

The school's managers had been anticipating the disaster, Ms Killen said, after weather experts issued an alert on heavy rains.

Several other parts of the city also experienced floods.

The Kenya Red Cross posted on its Twitter page that parts of Jogoo, Lusaka and Lang'ata roads were flooded and cautioned motorists to be careful.

Weather experts have said the rains would continue up to December.