Three more killed as rains havoc continues

By JOB WERU and KIPCHUMBA KEMEI

The heavy rains pounding various parts of the country have claimed three more lives in Laikipia and Samburu counties.

Raging floods washed the trio away as they tried to cross swollen rivers. In Samburu County, two middle-aged men were swept away as they attempted to cross River Seia near Lodungukwe on Friday.

The unidentified men were heading back home on Friday evening after receiving relief food.
Kenya Red Cross Society co-ordinator Mugambi Gitonga said the men decided to cross the river, but flash floods swept them away.

“The river was not very swollen since it had not rained during the day. We believe it rained upstream, in Mt Kenya and Aberdares and the flood waters caused flash floods,” he said.

Gitonga said rains hampered locals’ and KRCS officials’ rescue efforts. “We walked for about 20km downstream, but heavy rains frustrated the rescue mission,” he said.

And in Nanyuki, a man drowned in Nanyuki River on Friday evening after day-long rains, which caused flooding in most parts of the town and its environs.

HEAVY LOSSES

The man was crossing the river near Kiriiri Bridge when he slid and fell into the fast moving waters. His body was recovered after a frustrating search on Friday night, according to a resident of the area, Mr James Kariuki. The KRCS says at least 50 people have died from floods since March.

In Narok, traders are estimating that they have lost property worth Sh200 million to floods in the last three weeks.

Most of them have opted out of business and blame the local town council and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) for their woes.

“Recurrent floods have forced us to incur heavy losses. It is common knowledge that every year around this time floods are expected yet the authorities concerned have not done anything to minimise the losses,” said their spokesperson Isaiah Ndung’u.

Mr Ndung’u wondered what became of Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s directive three years ago requiring the council and Kura to work together to curb perennial flooding.

“The council is responsible for the mess in the town having allocated plots even in drainage areas. How much longer should lives and property be lost before action is taken,” he asked.

SUBSIDE

Meanwhile, majority of mobile camp operators in Masai Mara Game Reserve have halted their business due to flooding.

The floods have rendered most roads in the reserve impassable and affected hot air balloon expeditions.
“The floods have forced us to close until the current rains subside. The business loss is big but there is little we can do,” said a manager of a tented camp on the western side of the famous wildlife reserve.