Residents of Nairobi and its surrounding areas experienced a mild earth tremor on Wednesday morning, causing momentary panic across various neighborhoods. The tremor, which occurred between 10:30am and 10:40am local time, was felt in multiple parts of the city including Westlands, Parklands, Kangemi, Mlolongo, and satellite towns such as Ruaka, Ruiru, Githunguri, and Athi River.
The Earthquake Monitor, a seismic activity tracking website, issued a preliminary alert indicating early signs of ground shaking originating near Mlolongo town before spreading outward. According to their statement, the tremor occurred at approximately 07:36 GMT (10:36am local time). “There are no details yet on the magnitude or depth of this possible quake. If confirmed, we can expect more accurate data to emerge in the next few minutes,” the agency stated, noting that their current data is based on a best-fit seismic model.
Eyewitness accounts flooded social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), where Nairobians described the momentary vibrations that rattled windows and doors. “I was working on the third floor when everything started vibrating lightly. At first, I thought it was a heavy truck passing nearby, but then the windows and doors started rattling,” said Mary Wambui, a shop owner in Parklands. “It was scary. We all ran outside.”
Investigative journalist John-Allan Namu also confirmed the tremor via a post on X, saying, “I just felt an earth tremor about two or three minutes ago.”
The incident comes barely a week after a stronger tremor struck the coastal counties of Mombasa and Kilifi on April 28, reaching a depth of 10 kilometers and triggering alarm in towns such as Malindi, Vipingo, and Watamu.
As of now, no injuries or damage to property have been reported in Nairobi. Government agencies, including the Kenya Meteorological Department and the Ministry of Interior, have yet to issue an official statement on the incident. Experts urge residents to remain calm but vigilant in the event of aftershocks or further tremors.Eart
