
Mathare Flood Survivors Struggle to Rebuild Amid Climate and Housing Crisis
In the shadow of Nairobi’s skyline Mathare one of Kenya’s largest informal settlements bears the deep scars of nature’s wrath. The March-to-May rainy season of 2024 brought devastating floods that swept through the community, destroying homes, displacing thousands, and claiming lives.
On April 24, floodwaters surged through Mathare, leaving more than 7,000 people displaced, according to a report by Save the Children. A month later, families were still grappling with the scale of destruction.
Doreen Achieng, a mother of four, recalls how water seeped into her house overnight. Used to occasional flooding, she began mopping until she realized the water wasn’t stopping. Within hours, it had risen three meters, trapping her family inside.
“We were stuck in the water, but the men came t...