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Floods havoc: Death toll rises to 267 after 3 people die

The total number of affected persons is 380,573.

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by SHARON MWENDE

News10 May 2024 - 16:56
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In Summary


  • Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said those who have been injured owing the current weather conditions are 188 while 75 people are currently missing.
  • He said a total of 56,367 households have been displaced affecting approximately 281,835 people.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki speaking in Mombasa.

The death toll from flood-related incidences has risen to 267 after three more people died in the last 24 hours.

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said those who have been injured owing to the current weather conditions are 188 while 75 people are currently missing.

He said a total of 56,367 households have been displaced affecting approximately 281,835 people.

So far, the government has set up 167 camps across 22 counties hosting 70,451 people.

The total number of affected persons is 380,573.

Kindiki stated that a total of 1,967 schools have been affected by the floods while 62 health facilities have been affected in 11 counties.

Additionally, crops on 9,816 acres of land have been destroyed and 4,003 livestock dead.

Since the floods began, they have proven to be a headache to the transport, housing, education, health and agriculture sectors.

The CS notified that 48 cholera cases have been reported so far with the Ministry of Health together with the Kenya Red Cross conducting medical outreach programmes as well as cholera control and other waterborne diseases in Tana River and Marsabit.

So far, he added, 30 public health officials have also been deployed for a risk assessment of all 167 internally displaced camps and evaluation of nutrition as well as safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) points.

"There is a need for more food, medical kits and non-food items to affected Counties and where search and rescue operations are still ongoing including, Narok, West Pokot, Nyeri, Siaya and Kirinyaga Counties," Kindiki said.

The CS said in the last 24 hours, Nakuru, Isiolo, Nyandarua, Migori and Mandera Counties have suffered from flooding while Elgeyo Marakwet County experienced landslides and mudslides.

He added that on Friday and throughout the weekend, rainfall and thunderstorms are forecasted to persist, but in a few places.

This is in 20 counties in the Lake Victoria Basin (Kisumu, Kisii, Nyamira, Migori, Siaya, Homabay); Western region (Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia); and Rift Valley (Kericho, Nandi, Bomet, Nakuru, Narok, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Baringo, Uasin Gishu).

"Flooding is expected in low-lying areas, riparian areas and urban areas while landslides/mudslides may occur in areas with steep slopes, escarpments and ravines," he added.

Further, Lakes Victoria and Baringo are projected to continue causing backflow and flooding of counties in the Lake Victoria and Lake Baringo Basins.

He noted that overflow of the Seven Forks Dams still exacerbates flooding in the Tana Delta and impacts Garissa, Tana River, and Lamu Counties.

"Occasional rainfall and clouds that break into sunny intervals are forecasted for most regions of the country," the CS added.

Kindiki pointed out that fishing at Turkwel Dam in Turkana County remains suspended through a notice issued by the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA).

Further, he issued an advisory on wearing life jackets in private boats ferrying people from Mororo to Garissa in Tana River County.

He said the government is carrying out assessments of damaged roads and mobilising resources to address critical sections and restore safe travel.

He cautioned the public using roads in Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley and Eastern counties, noting that several roads have been rendered impassable due to water overflows and road cut-offs.

In Nairobi and Urban Areas, he said there is increased water stagnation which is damaging roads, and the drainage systems are overwhelmed, with roads becoming hazardous when it rains.

In the Coast and Northeastern region, the CS said water currents and stagnation are present with many coastal and frontier roads partially flooded.

Lastly, in the Central region, the heavy rains have triggered landslides, especially in hilly areas posing a risk of vehicle accidents.

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