219 people killed by floods as gov’t warns of heavy rainfall countrywide

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki in a statement on Saturday, May 4, said that floods had killed an additional nine people in the last 24 hours, 164 others were reportedly injured and 72 were missing.

“A total of 41,248 households have been displaced affecting approximately 206,240 people. 115 camps have been set up across 19 Counties hosting 27,856 people. Approximately 223,198 people have been impacted by the heavy rains. 

Additionally, Kindiki says a total of 1,967 schools have been affected by the floods.

This is, even as the government warned of continued heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms across 33 counties.

Counties expected to experience heavy rains include Nairobi, Nyeri, Muranga, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Nyandarua, Nandi, Bomet, Nakuru, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Baringo, Samburu, Turkana, Uasin Gishu, Laikipia and Narok counties.

Others are Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia, Kisumu, Kisii, Nyamira, Migori, Siaya, Homabay, Machakos, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, and Marsabit counties.

People residing in urban areas, low-lying areas and riparian areas have been warned of possible flooding and those in hilly areas or steep slopes cautioned against landslides.

Counties said to have been affected by floods in the last 24 hours include Nairobi, Machakos, Baringo, Nyeri, Nakuru, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Embu, Laikipia, Trans Nzoia, Bomet, Kakamega, Kilifi, Busia, Kajiado, Garissa and Homabay Counties have suffered from flooding. • Landslides and mudslides occurred in West Pokot, Embu, Machakos, Makueni and Nakuru Counties.

At the same time, Kindiki reiterated the government warning to residents in the Coastal region of the looming Cyclone Hidaya saying it is expected to hit the area by Sunday.

“Despite sunny intervals in the Coast region, Tropical Cyclone Hidaya is forecasted to bring strong winds and large ocean waves mostly in Kwale and Kilifi, with heavy rainfall starting Sunday,” Kindiki noted.

The government says multi-agency teams drawn from the Kenya Defence Forces, National Youth Service and Humanitarian agencies had already hit the ground running to coordinate rescue efforts and provide essential help to the displaced people.

“151 Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) are actively engaged in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County following the mudslide tragedy where 53 deceased persons have been retrieved, 41 of whom have been positively identified and families duly informed. 49 people are still missing. 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 stated.

“National Youth Service (NYS) 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.”