NAIROBI, Kenya, May 2 – Heavy rains in Nairobi on Wednesday evening forced authorities at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to re-route flights to Mombasa.
Kenya Airways Corporate Communications Manager Chris Karanja said two of their jets from Johannesburg and Kisumu that were meant to land at JKIA shortly before 5pm were diverted to Mombasa due to poor visibility.
He said they also delayed three flights from taking off.
The flights were destined to Entebbe, Bujumbura via Kigali and Cairo via Khartoum.
Karanja said that after the rains subsided their flights were able to land and taking off as scheduled.
Nairobi has been experiencing heavy rains since last week and the Kenya Metrological Department said the weather will remain as it is until the end of the month.
Heavy rains have pounded various parts of the country, with reports that flash floods have led to the loss of tens of lives.
According to Kenya Red Cross Society at least 40 people have been killed and 60,000 others displaced since the rains started.
The most recent incident occurred at Hells Gate National Park where seven youths died after being swept into a gorge by flash floods.
The Metrological Department warned of possible flash floods in South Coast this week, due to daily rainfall forecasts that began on Saturday.
