• In Central, 60 dams are high-risk, while 39 in Eastern are high-risk.
• Rift Valley has 29 high-risk dams: Coast (22), Western (21), Nairobi (12), North Eastern (5), and Nyanza (4).
Image: DCI/X
Close to 200 dams across the country are high-risk, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has said.
Kindiki, in the latest brief, said a nationwide assessment of all dams that have been conducted revealed that 192 dams are high-risk.
In Central, 60 dams are high-risk, while 39 have been listed in Eastern.
Rift Valley has 29 high-risk dams: Coast (22), Western (21), Nairobi (12), North Eastern (5), and Nyanza (4).
“A 24-hour evacuation notice effective May 2, 2024, was issued to settlements in 33 counties that are within 178 of these high-risk dams and water reservoirs. The government is facilitating logistical support, temporary shelter, and essential supplies for those affected,” Kindiki said on Sunday in a statement.
Kindiki said 228 people have lost their lives due to severe weather conditions.
“An additional nine fatalities have been reported since the last update.”
Kindiki said a cumulative 164 people have been reported injured, while 72 people are currently missing.
A total of 42,526 households have been displaced, affecting approximately 212,630 people.
The CS said 138 camps have been set up across 18 counties, hosting 62,061 people.
Approximately 227,238 people have been impacted by the heavy rains, which have affected a total of 1,967 schools.
“All persons residing within the 30-meter riparian corridor of rivers and other water courses across the country have been ordered to vacate immediately for their safety. Mandatory evacuation along rivers in Nairobi County (Mathare, Ngong, and Nairobi Rivers) is ongoing, with the government facilitating logistical support, temporary shelter, and essential supplies for those affected.”
The CS said the Kenya Coast Guard Service, responsible for marine operations in territorial and inland waters, is on high alert and positioned in Kisumu, Tana River, Garissa, Kilifi, and Nairobi Counties to offer the required assistance.
Kindiki said areas prone to landslides and mudslides in various counties have been identified as high-risk areas.
Adjacent settlements are being evacuated with sites for temporary shelter for displaced persons coordinated by county security committees, he said.
“Beach activities, fishing, swimming, and non-essential transport along the Coast region shoreline in Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Lamu are suspended effective May 4th until Monday, May 6th, 2024.”
The CS said the government is carrying out assessments of damaged roads and mobilizing resources to address critical sections and restore safe travel.
He cautioned those using roads in Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley, and Eastern, saying several roads have been rendered impassable due to water overflows and road cut-offs.
Kindiki said accumulated debris has blocked drainage systems, exacerbating water stagnation and flooding.
He said strong water currents make some roads dangerous for vehicle passage.
In Nairobi and other urban areas, Kindiki said there is increased water stagnation that is damaging roads.
“Urban area drainage systems are overwhelmed, with roads becoming hazardous when it rains.”
On search and rescue, the CS said emergency response teams from Narok County, along with the County Security Team and Red Cross, have successfully evacuated 90 individuals in coordinated efforts by ground and aerial units in the Masai Mara, where 19 lodges were flooded after the River Talek overflowed.
He said there have been no fatalities reported, and a tracing desk has been set up at the Masai Mara Sekenani Gate.
“KDF were similarly deployed to Joska, Machakos County, on the Athi River Bridge. The rescue operation has ended, having recorded no fatalities and 59 people rescued.”
Kindiki said 151 KDF officers are actively engaged in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, following the mudslide tragedy, where 58 deceased persons have been retrieved, 41 of whom have been positively identified and their families duly informed.
“Mai Mahiu-Narok Road is now clear and open for traffic movement, and Kenya Railways is conducting inspections of the railway line in Kijabe.”
Kindiki said a search mission continues at Maroro, Tana River County, where seven deceased persons have been recovered, 13 people are still missing, and 23 people were rescued after a boat with 40 people capsized.
He said 400 personnel from the National Youth Service have also been deployed to reinforce the ongoing search and rescue operations, while the National Police Service, National Disaster Operation Managers, Public Health Officers, and Ambulance Service Providers are on-site in each of the emergency locations.
Kindiki said essential food supplies of rice and beans totalling 1,226,400 kg have been distributed to support affected communities in Busia, Homabay, Kisumu, Machakos, Makueni, Tana River, Kilifi, Nakuru, Garissa, Turkana, Isiolo, Migori, Kajiado, Nairobi, Nyandarua, Kiambu, and Murang’a Counties.
The Ministry of Health, together with the Kenya Red Cross, is conducting medical outreach programmes as well as cholera control and other waterborne diseases in Tana River and Marsabit Counties.
Kindiki said 30 public health officials have also been deployed for a risk assessment of all 138 internally displaced camps.
He said there is a need for more food, medical kits, and non-food items in the affected counties, and search and rescue operations are still ongoing in Narok, West Pokot, Nyeri, Siaya, and Kirinyaga counties.