Four killed, elephant swept away in Samburu floods

By Michael Saitoti

Samburu, Kenya: Four people were on Tuesday killed in Samburu East when they were swept away as they attempted to cross Ewaso Nyiro River.

Among the dead were two morans, a woman and a child who were swept away as they attempted to cross the river which burst its banks.

An elephant was also swept away by the raging waters at the same river. The elephant was attempting to cross the river when it was swept away and drowned.

According to Tom Lolosoli the area resident, they watched helplessly as the four struggled with the raging waters but could do nothing.

“It is unfortunate there was nothing we could do as we saw our colleagues being swept away. Earlier they had been warned against trying to cross the river but they defied,” he said.

And in Suguta Marmar, trucks ferrying goods to Maralal and Baragoi have been stranded for the last eight days as the roads have become impassable.

Truck drivers said some of the goods they were ferrying have spoilt and business people are counting losses.

“The commodities and perishable foodstuffs that we were transporting have spoilt because of long hours on the roads,” said Ngige Kamau, a truck driver.

Public Service Vehicles have suspended its operations in the region because of the roads.

In the last one week, the flash floods have worsened in the entire Samburu region confining people into their homes.

Veronica Lesadala a resident said there were no more movements in the region as people have been confined into their homes.

“You cannot go to anywhere. There are floods everywhere and no road is passable at the moment,” she said.

Livestock markets have also been closed in the region.

Samburu Governor Moses Lenelkulal termed the floods in the county a disaster that needs immediate intervention from the central government.

“The central government should come to our aid because we are completely cut off from the outer world,” said Lenelkulal.