The earth tremor felt in Nairobi: what happened, why Kenya feels earthquakes, and what to do
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake in north-western Tanzania, about 1,000 km away, was felt in Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado and Murang'a on Thursday. No damage was reported. Here is why distant quakes reach Kenya, and how to stay safe.
Latest updates to this explainer
- New explainer: The earth tremor felt in Nairobi.
Around 12.25pm on Thursday 5 November 2026, people in parts of Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado and Murang'a reported feeling buildings sway or windows rattle. It was not a local quake.
What happened
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | 5.2 (revised from a first estimate of 5.6), according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) |
| Where | About 14 km east of Ushirombo, north-western Tanzania, in the Lake Victoria region, roughly 1,000 km from Nairobi |
| Also felt in | Kigali, Bujumbura and Kampala (light shaking) |
| Damage | No injuries or damage reported |
Why a quake in Tanzania is felt in Nairobi
- East Africa sits on the Rift. The East African Rift system, which runs through Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, is where the African plate is slowly pulling apart. Small and moderate earthquakes are common along it.
- Waves travel far. Earthquake waves can be felt hundreds of kilometres away, especially by people on upper floors of tall buildings, which sway more.
- Most Kenyan tremors are mild. Damaging earthquakes in Kenya are rare, but they are possible, which is why building standards matter.
What to do if you feel shaking
- Drop, cover and hold on: get under a sturdy table and hold it, away from windows.
- Don't run outside during shaking; falling glass and debris cause many injuries.
- Avoid lifts and use stairs after the shaking stops.
- Check your building for new cracks afterwards, and report serious damage to the county.
- Ignore rumours of "bigger quakes coming": earthquakes cannot be predicted.
Related: how to check if your building is safe · El Niño and the short rains.
Prefer to watch? Nchiwise explains it on videoShort videos on how countries develop and scale.
Watch on YouTube
