El Nino: Three more dead, death toll rises to 168

The number of Kenyans who have succumbed to the aftermath of the ongoing El Nino rains is on a steady rise after three more persons died in the last 24 hours bringing the death toll to 168. 

In Friday's emergency response update, Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura said the three fatalities were reported in Tharaka Nithi, Nandi and Migori counties.

He sent condolences to the bereaved families and appealed to Kenyans to strictly adhere to weather and flood alerts to avert more fatalities.

"Our sincere sympathies to those who have lost their loved ones." 

Mwaura said rains are expected to persist in southern parts of the country in the Lake Victoria Basin, Central Highlands, South Eastern Rift Valley the Coastal strip and Western Kenya between December 9 and 15.

He said according to the Meteorological Department forecast, isolated storms are expected from Sunday, December 10 in the Lake Victoria Basin and Western Kenya regions although dry and sunny conditions will prevail in Northeastern part of the country. 

"The Tana River flooding will continue to affect the surrounding areas and is expected to disrupt movement along the Garsen-Lamu road. We urge residents to be on the lookout and act on alerts and warnings on the road status," Mwaura said.

"We urge Kenyans to remain vigilant and take precautions. The Meteorological department forecast shows that rains will increase in intensity from mid-December and we advise Kenyans in flood-prone areas to move to higher grounds."

Over half a million displaced

As of Friday, Mwaura said,  545,515 people from 109,033 households have been displaced by floods although the emergency response team is capitalising on the dry conditions in Northeastern to distribute relief items to Wajir and Mandera counties.

He said efforts have also been made to repair previously damaged roads in Northern Kenya through collaboration between the Ministry of Roads and Transport and Kenya Highways Authority.

"Notably the Mogodashe-Habaswein road where a convoy of trucks had been stuck has now been fully restored," Mwaura said adding that the Isiolo-Garbatulla-Mogodashe-Wajir and Hola-Garsen roads are also now passable.

Mwaura added that the Kenya Coast Guards and the Kenya Navy are meanwhile facilitating the evacuation of people in areas that are still submerged in water along Lamu-Witu road around Gamba in the Lango la Simba area.

Lamu Cholera outbreak contained

Mwaura revealed that the cholera outbreak reported in Lamu County where 115 cases and three fatalities had been reported has now been contained.

"Of the 115 cases, only two remain active with the rest either recovered or tested negative," he said.

He said water and sanitation supplies have been bolstered in the county where Kenya Defences Forces (KDF) have provided water bowsers to supply water to residents in Lamu.

"To alleviate the strain of medical supplies, the Kenya Medical Supplies Association has dispatched 164 tonnes of medical supplies to affected counties with another 11 tonnes earmarked for dispatch to Turkana County."