‘It can kill us’: Kenyans fear impact of El Niño with floods predicted

Kenyans in flood-prone parts of Nairobi are bracing for the short rainy season after forecasts warned that El Niño could bring unusually heavy rain. In Kibera, Agnes Shikoli fears flooding could drown her or collapse her home; her sister died by electrocution during floods earlier this year, when more than 60 people died across Kenya.

Authorities are clearing rubbish from rivers and drains, which were blamed for worsening the earlier floods by preventing water from escaping. Nairobi’s drainage system was designed for a population of about 2.5 million, while the city now has roughly 7 million people during the day and 5.5 million at night. A full upgrade is estimated to cost up to $192m (£143m), funding the cash-strapped authorities may struggle to find.