Raging floods have killed six more people, raising the death toll across the country to 142, Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura has confirmed.
The six, three of them children, died in Tana River, Taita Taveta, Machakos and Kisumu.
Mwaura announced that Turkana has been added to the list of counties on high alert due to the ongoing heavy rains.
“The escalation of the floods has led to the establishment of five additional camps to accommodate the growing number of displaced individuals,” he said.
He noted that the Dadaab Refugee Camp has borne a heavy toll, with about 6,000 people displaced as a result of Dahagute, Ifo and Hagadera areas being submerged.
“Similarly, in Kakuma Refugee Camp, 352 people have been displaced and the houses washed away,” Mwaura announced during his weekly briefings.
He added that Kianthenge-Thingirani-Kamarind Road in Mbeere North has been severed causing disruptions in transport and connectivity.
“Immediate efforts by the Kenya Rural Authority are underway to restore access along this route. Motorists are advised to avoid driving on the road,” Mwaura said.
He announced that the Mwingi-Madogo-Garissa Road has been restored and is now operational.
He added that the Ministry of Roads and Transport will continue to repair damaged infrastructure in areas where flooding has subsided.
He said rainfall is expected to continue over the southern parts of the country with a reduction in intensity in the northern parts of the country.
He added that isolated storms and heavy rains are likely to occur over a few areas in the highlands east and west of the Rift Valley, South Rift Valley, the South Eastern lowlands, part of the coast (Kwale and Lamu) and northeastern Kenya (Garissa).
“In response to the escalating crisis, substantial initiatives have been mobilised. Twenty-four trucks from the Kenya Defence Forces and National Youth Service have been dispatched to facilitate distribution of essential supplies in affected areas,” he said.
He further said military planes and parachutes have been deployed to assist in airlifting and airdropping food and non-food items.
He said the new toll-free number is 0800721571.
