Over fifty people who were swept away by the recent floods are still missing as the government started closing down camps hosting victims of the environmental disaster.
With close to 200 camps still active, the government said that it was time that affected families who have been living in schools and churches moved back to their homes.
This came as the government announced plans to buy land for the Mai Mahiu victims who have been camping at a church and a private institution since the tragedy occurred.
According to the CS for East Africa Community and ASAL Development Peninah Malonza, there were 198 active camps across the country with 92 closed in the last one week.
The CS said that over 300 people across the country lost their lives and over 300,000 were either displaced by the floods that affected 32 counties.
“The President promised to resettle all those affected by the floods and we have started the process by closing the active camps,” she said.
Speaking after visiting the Mai Mahiu victims, Malonza said that the government would keep its promise by buying them land or taking them back to their former homes.
She said that from next week, the government would meet Nakuru County government officers to seek land for the Mai Mahiu victims before resettling them.
She added that 52 people across the country were still missing following the heavy rains with Mai Mahiu bearing the brunt of the floods where over 30 bodies were still missing.
The CS promised families whose kin were missing that the search operation by KDF and NYS officers would continue until all the bodies were recovered.
On his part, PS Kello Harsama said that the government would continue to support all those families in different camps until they were integrated back into the community.
“We are visiting all areas affected by floods in the country with a view of accessing the situation and supporting all those in the camps,” he said.
Evangelist Lucy Wangunjiri who has been hosting the Mai Mahiu victims called on the government to keep its promise of resettling all the victims.
“The victims have been directed to shift to rental houses and they are worried if the State will resettle them and their concerns are genuine and should be addressed,” she said.
Ends.
