A 4.7-magnitude earthquake rocked parts of Kenya on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, causing widespread panic among residents. The quake, which had a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, hit at around 8:32 pm local time, with its epicenter located near Nairobi, the capital city.

The tremors were felt in various parts of Nairobi, including Kitengela, Ruaka, and Westlands, as well as in other areas such as Isinya, Kajiado County, Kirinyanga, Kisii, Nyeri, and Murang’a. The earthquake lasted for approximately 30 seconds, causing minor incidents such as objects falling from shelves and broken windows.

According to the Kenya Rift Valley and the Kavirondo (Nyanza) Rift, the most seismically active areas in Kenya, earthquakes typically range from local magnitudes (Ml) of 2.0 to 5.0. While the preliminary magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the earthquake are subject to revision as seismologists continue to analyze data and refine their calculations, it is likely that the quake was perceptible to many individuals in the vicinity of the epicenter.

The impact of the earthquake on nearby towns and cities is estimated as follows: Magadi (population 14,500), located 15 km from the epicenter, likely experienced light shaking; Kajiado (population 11,200), situated 67 km from the epicenter, may have felt weak shaking; Ngong (population 9,500), 78 km away from the epicenter, possibly experienced weak shaking as well. Other nearby towns and cities may have felt very weak shaking, including Kikuyu (population 323,900), located 86 km from the epicenter; Narok (population 36,100), 91 km away from the epicenter; Nairobi (population 2,750,500), 95 km away from the epicenter; Limuru (population 159,300), 96 km away from the epicenter; Athi River (population 24,500), 99 km away from the epicenter.

The earthquake caught many residents off guard, leading to a mix of fear and humor in the reactions from the public. This sudden tremor comes after the county experienced an earth tremor in June 2024.

Kenya is not new to earthquakes, with a total of 29 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above having struck within 300 kilometers of the East African country in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of two earthquakes per year. The strongest recent quake of the past 10 years occurred on May 3, 2020, with a magnitude of 5 and a depth of 10 kilometers. Before that, a 6.7 earthquake struck on January 6, 1928. It was the strongest earthquake that has rocked Kenya in the past 124 years, according to seismic activity records ².

As the country continues to assess the impact of the earthquake, residents are advised to remain calm and vigilant, taking necessary precautions to ensure their safety. The government has assured the public that it is working closely
with seismologists and other stakeholders to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.

In the meantime, the earthquake has left many residents shaken, with some taking to social media to share their experiences and express their gratitude for being safe. While the earthquake has caused minimal damage, it has served as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for natural disasters and taking steps to mitigate their impact.

As the dust settles, Kenya remains vigilant, knowing that earthquakes can strike at any time, without warning. The country will continue to monitor the situation, learning from this experience and working towards building a more resilient and prepared community