40 Kenyans killed, hundreds left homeless as heavy rains rage

Belongings of one of the families that were displaced ranging floods experienced in the area following heavy rains in the area on Wednesday night. They faulted the government of doing little to caution them against the negative effects of floods. PHOTO: KAMAU MAICHUHIE

KENYA: At least 40 people have died, dozens are injured and hundreds displaced following heavy rains experienced in the country in the last month, according to the Government.

Thursday, a four-year boy died after drowning in a quarry in Taita Taveta where he was playing with friends.

The rains have affected almost half of the country - 24 counties - with the Kenya Red Cross Society leading in rescue missions.

The National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) urged caution saying the situation was still dangerous as the rains are still heavy in most parts of the country.

“We have lost at least 40 people and many others are displaced following the rains. We still continue to urge caution and ask people to heed directives from authorities,” said NDOC Deputy Director Jeremiah Njagi.

Major roads including parts of Nairobi-Mombasa, Narok-Bomet, Turkana-Kitale and many other highways have been rendered impassable.

STUCK IN TRAFFIC

Nairobi-Mombasa highway is the latest to be affected by the rains after part of it in Taru was cut off for two days. This led to communication disruptions between many parts of Coast and Nairobi. Residents now risk going hungry because lorries carrying foodstuffs are stuck.

Coast Regional Police Co-ordinator Francis Wanjohi said they had diverted vehicles to a different route near Taru to ease traffic congestion that had stretched to almost 40km.

“The truck drivers have refused to follow the new route for fear of being stuck on the new road. We have deployed more officers to help in controlling the flow and it may take longer to ease,” he said.

Police also said property has been destroyed with many cars swept away.

The Kenya Red Cross said heavy rainfall was experienced on Wednesday in Narok, Nakuru, Tana Delta, Bomet, Tharaka Nithi, Siaya, Kirinyaga, Migori, Samburu, Nairobi, Bungoma, Nyeri, Nyandarua and Murang’a counties.

Average rainfall was received in Turkana and Kisii counties. Light showers were received in most parts of Kilifi County, while there was no rainfall in North Eastern.

Nairobi received above-average rainfall where flash floods were reported along Thika Road, affecting the residents of Kahawa, Githurai, Roysambu and Mwiki.

The Ruai camp for the internally displaced also experienced flash floods after Nairobi River broke its banks. Reports indicated that water flowed into 40 structures that were erected in the camp displacing 60 people.

In Narok, police had to stop traffic for three hours to wait for raging waters to subside. Rift Valley Regional Police Co-ordinator Gideon Amalla said there are still dangers of landslides in the area.

Most rivers in the county, including Ewaso Nyiro, Mara, Siapei and other streams remain swollen with possibilities of breaking their banks if the rains continue to pound the area.

More than 1,460 families living on the slopes of the Mau highlands, where more than 12 landslide incidents have been reported, are at risk.

The Kenya Meteorological Department warned the amount of rainfall being experienced now can lead to an emergency situations in some parts of the country.

This is especially so for areas that have experienced heavy downpour in the last couple of days with the department pointing out that the soil is already saturated with rain water.

Samuel Mwangi, the deputy director in charge of Forecasting and County Meteorological Services, said mudslides and flooding may be experienced in some areas due to the saturation.

“Some of the areas that have experienced heavy rainfall include Western Kenya, which was originally Nyanza province, Kakamega, Nandi Hills, parts of Central Kenya including Embu and Muranga counties, parts of Kirinyaga and some parts of Northern Kenya,” he said.

Mr Mwangi said other adverse effects that are likely include environmental degradation, destruction of infrastructure and the spread of waterborne diseases, especially in areas experiencing flooding.

He asked motorists to be careful on the roads adding that: “Traffic congestion is expected with the rains and people should therefore be more careful. Pot holes may not be as visible and the roads will be slippery as a result.”

The negative economic effects of the rains will also be felt with Mwangi saying for instance, that infrastructure damage would require time and money to rehabilitate.

But, he was quick to point out that not all effects of the rain would be negative. “The heavy rains will see the dams filled to the brim and that should consequently see the price of hydropower come down. The agriculture sector should also benefit from the rains and I would encourage people to store water for drier times,” he said.

In Samburu, heavy rainfall was experienced on Tuesday during the day. Thirty families and an unconfirmed number of cattle were displaced by the heavy downpour in Wamba.

Thirteen schools, including one for the deaf and physically disabled in Meru, Sukari Primary School (Migori), St Elizabeth Primary School (Nairobi), Kamachei Primary School (Mt Elgon), St Kizito Primary School (Isiolo) and Ng’araria  Primary School (Murang’a) among others were affected.

Roads in Tharaka Nithi, Igembe North, Garbatula, Sericho, Maua, Turkana South and parts of the Garissa-Nairobi road have also been damaged by the heavy rains.

Statistics from the Red Cross indicate that the El Nino rains have affected 3,303 households, 2,104 animals and caused 43 injuries since October.

—Story by Sophia Muthoni, Lorna Kibet and Cyrus Ombati