Nine killed in Migori as floods displace families

Nine people have died and 400 displaced in Migori county as floods continue to wreak havoc across the country.

In Wajir, Governor Ahmed Abdullahi appealed to partners and stakeholders to support 10,000 households which have been affected.

This, even as the weatherman yesterday said the rains are expected to slightly subside towards weekend, easing rescue efforts.

“Rainfall is expected to continue over most parts of the country with isolated storms likely to occur in some parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Southeastern lowlands, the Coast and Northeastern Kenya," Metrological Department director David Gikungu said.

In Migori county, a body was yesterday picked at Thim Jope area in Uriri constituency after it was swept by the flooded Oyani River.

“We are on high alert to respond to emergencies in real-time when they happen and we have called on people to move to higher grounds,” Migori county secretary Oscar Olima said.

Among those who have died are two children who drowned in River Kuja, Nyatike Subcounty and two men who drowned in separate incidents at River Ogoche, when the river broke its banks in the Wasimbete area in Suna West constituency and Nyarago River in Uriri Subcounty last week.

Two children were rescued from drowning around Nyandago Bridge along Uriri-Awendo road.

On Monday, the county government issued foodstuff, medical and household equipment to those affected by floods in Konyango, Kabuto, and Modi villages in Nyatike constituency.

Olima said they have 15 experienced drivers on standby whom they have deployed to conduct rescue missions.

Kevin Ondiek, the Migori county coordinator for Kenya Red Cross Society said a total of 70 households were affected and 413 people displaced by floods.

He said the affected infrastructure include, Kabuto dispensary and Modi Primary School and dykes at Kabuto around River Kuja.

“We have been forced to flee our homes because of the floods. I have lost almost everything I had. I only managed to secure very little,” Risper Anyango, a resident of Nyatike lamented.

In Wajir, Governor Abdullahi said the numbers of those affected by floods are likely to go up following the heavy rains in the county.

The county continues to receive heavy rains which have resulted in flash floods. Northeastern has been the most affected region.

He said lack of roads has complicated the situation forcing them to airlift relief items to Buna in Wajir North.

“The only tarmac road which is the road between Garissa and Modogashe has been cut off. This county has about 700 or more settlements and about half of those have been affected in one way or another,” he said.

Abdullahi faulted Met for giving mixed signals which he says caught them flat footed.

“The met department misadvised the president. What followed next saw everyone sleep on the job and we were caught off-guard,” he said.

“So yes the mixed messages affected our preparedness. Because even the coordination meetings we had started to have with the Deputy President stopped until yesterday."

Abdullahi who is also the Vice chairperson Council of Governors called for increased funding of the Kenya Red Cross 

“The Kenya Red Cross Society is very agile when it comes to disaster response. They should not only be depending on well wishers and donor communities but the national government as well,” he said.

Abdullahi said their attempts to venture crop farming has been futile as crops get washed away during floods.

He has urged the National government to fast track the construction of mega dams to help hold the excess waters.

Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Dr Ahmed Idris said 24,000 households have so far been displaced across the country.

He said the organisation is stretched due to the growing number of people in need of assistance.

Idriss called for a coordinated approach to reach Elwak, Diff and Buna area in Wajir and Mandera with relief items.

"We are likely to continue witness this again. We need to therefore as a country prepare a policy on how to systematically respond to this," he said.

On Monday, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said at least 46 people have been killed by flash floods across the country as a result of the ongoing El Nino rains.

The numbers have since risen to 50.