Mombasa residents were left counting losses after flash floods destroyed property and derailed business in the county.
The rains that started on Christmas Day, December 25, left the business and residential areas submerged while people were unable to move around the city.
Motorists were also caught up in the flash floods and they struggled to drive vehicles through the waters.
Floodwaters sealed major streets, with Jomo Kenyatta Avenue being the most affected and motorists had to wait for the water levels to reduce before accessing their vehicles.
Some were forced to leave their vehicles in the middle of the streets to avoid being swept away by the heavy currents as rains pounded the city.
Fuel stations in the area were affected by the floodwaters and customers could not access vehicles they had parked overnight.
The Kenya Meteorological Department had warned of rains in Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu and Tana River over the festive period.
According to the weatherman, the Coastal strip covering counties of Mombasa, Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu and Kwale was to experience showers with the highs of 32°C and lows of 24°C.
KMD on December 24, had announced that rainfall will be expected over the next four days from today to December 28 across the country.
KMD director, Stella Aura, stated that rainfall was likely to be experienced in the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, the South-Eastern lowlands, the Coast, the Highlands West of the Rift Valley, Lake Victoria Basin, Central and South Rift Valley, North-Eastern and parts of North-Western Kenya.
She further stated that occasional heavy rainfall was likely to be experienced in parts of the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, South-Eastern lowlands, North-Eastern and the Coastal strip, with strong south-easterly winds expected over some parts of North-Western and North-Eastern Kenya.
“Showers and thunderstorms over several places are expected in most parts of the county, with some experiencing sunny intervals in morning hours coupled by rains in the afternoon hours,” the KMD boss stated.
