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Floods update: 22 more dead, toll now at 210

Ruto said the floods have caused injuries to many more and wreaked havoc on livelihoods.

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by FAITH KIAMA

News03 May 2024 - 14:23
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In Summary


  • The number of the dead from floods stood at 188 as of Thursday, May 2, 2024.
  • "Sadly, we have not seen the last of this perilous period, as thesituation is expected to escalate," Ruto said.
President William Ruto addresses the nation on floods mitigation measures at State House, Nairobi, May 3, 2024.

The country lost 22 more people to floods in the last 24 hours raising the death toll to 210 as of Friday.

In his address to the country from State House, Nairobi, President William Ruto said the devastating torrential rains have caused injuries to many more and wreaked havoc on property, infrastructure and livelihoods. 

"The weight of tragic events in recent weeks has tested our nation's resilience in the wake of unprecedented challenges [and] claimed 210 lives as of today," the President said. 

As a result, he postponed reopening of schools for an indefinite period.

The Ministry of Education had pushed the date from April 29 to Monday, May 6, 2024.

"Sadly, we have not seen the last of this perilous period, as thesituation is expected to escalate," Ruto said.

The number of the dead from floods stood at 188 as of Thursday, May 2, 2024.

The Ministry of Interior said nine fatalities had been reported in the previous 24 hours.

Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said at least 196,296 people have been impacted by the heavy rains.

He said 90 people were still missing, 125 were nursing injuries while 33,100 households had been displaced affecting approximately 165,500 people.

The President directed ministries, departments and agencies to work closely with the National Disaster Operations Centre and Security Agencies to ensure a whole of government approach in managing the prevailing crisis.

He said the government in partnership with stakeholders has put in place adequate measures to provide temporary shelter, food and non-food essential items for the displaced.

On Friday, the Meteorological department issued a heavy rains alert to city residents and advised them to stay weather aware.

Director David Gikungu said in a five-day forecast that the heavy rainfall pounding most parts of the country are expected to continue over several parts of the country.

He said heavy rainfall is likely to occur in some parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the South-eastern lowlands, North-western and North-eastern Kenya.


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