Tanzania earthquake behind Nairobi tremor, says Meteorological Department

Tremors felt across Nairobi and its outskirts on Wednesday morning were caused by an earthquake in Tanzania, the Kenya Meteorological Department has said.

The department attributed the ground movement to a 4.5-magnitude earthquake that struck near Longido town in northern Tanzania at around 10:35 am.

"Yes, tremors felt in Nairobi this morning were due to a regional earthquake. The tremors were caused by shock waves from this earthquake," Kenya Met said.

The department reported that the quake occurred 81 kilometres northwest of Longido and was located at 2.574°S, 35.983°E.

The tremor had a depth of 10 kilometres and an intensity level of III, meaning it was weak and did not cause any destruction.

According to the Kenya Met, tremors were also recorded in Machakos County, where they were measured at intensity level IV.

No structural damage was reported.

Data from Volcano Discovery, which monitors seismic activity, showed that the earthquake’s epicenter was about 91 kilometres from Kiratu in the Arusha region.

Though its exact depth remained unclear in the initial stages, the shallow nature of the quake intensified the tremors near the surface.

"The earthquake’s shallow depth caused stronger vibrations near the epicenter than a deeper one of similar size," Kenya Met noted in its update.

Soon after the tremor, social media was flooded with reports from Nairobi residents who said they had felt the ground shake.

Many were from areas such as Westlands, Parklands, Mlolongo, and Kangemi.

People living in satellite towns around the city also reported mild shaking and movement of items inside buildings.

The tremor was not destructive but left many residents seeking official explanations.

A real-time update by Earthquake Monitor confirmed that seismic activity had occurred in or near Nairobi at around 07:36 GMT on May 7.

"We are receiving unverified early reports of ground shaking possibly caused by seismic activity in or near Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya, on May 7, 2025 (GMT) at approximately 07:36 GMT," the platform said.

"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."

Later confirmation from Kenya Met showed the earthquake originated in Tanzania and not within Kenya.

The tremors experienced in parts of Nairobi and Machakos were therefore aftershocks from the Tanzanian quake.

Experts say shallow earthquakes are more likely to cause noticeable vibrations on the surface, even if they are of moderate magnitude.

The Meteorological Department reassured the public that the intensity recorded was low and did not pose any risk.

"This low intensity meant that no damages were recorded and the shaking of buildings was weak," the department stated.

Although tremors are rare in Kenya, the country occasionally feels shock waves from regional seismic activity, particularly from neighbouring Tanzania and Uganda.

The Meteorological Department said it will continue to monitor the situation and advised the public to remain calm in case of future tremors.

No injuries, destruction, or emergency incidents related to the tremor were reported by Kenyan authorities.