50 die, scores rendered homeless by raging floods

By Steve Mkawale and ANTONY GITONGA

Fifty people have died, as flash floods continue to wreak havoc.

Torrential rains that have been pounding the country since last month have also rendered thousands of people homeless.

The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) says more than 60,000 people have been affected after their houses were submerged.

KRCS on Saturday issued an alert to families living in the low lands along the Tana River, especially farmers who practice irrigation along the river in Garissa and Tana Delta to move to higher grounds.
The organisation said Kindaruma and Masinga dams were full to capacity and Kengen might be forced to discharge the water.

“The spillage is likely to result in flash floods, as the water levels of the Tana River rise. When the water is released, it will take 72 hours to be within the areas that are likely to be affected,” read a statement from the organisation to newsrooms.

Special Programmes PS Andrew Mondoh said on Friday 1,624 households have been displaced and 44 people injured due to floods.

Bodies recovered
The PS, however, assured that the Government was addressing the flooding crisis to avoid further deaths and destruction.

KRCS said the bodies of four people who were swept away by floods on May 4, were recovered Saturdayon top of Rimpa Bridge in Rongai.

In another case on the same date, one man drowned in Acacia River and two others in River Kwekwe in Kiserian. The later were in a car and rescue efforts are under way.

In Ruai, a family has been displaced after their house was marooned by water last night following heavy rains that caused floods near Clayworks next to Membley, Thika.

In the same area, property of 10 households was destroyed after water flowed into the houses. Meanwhile, major floods have been reported in Athi River at Kwanzomo and Mangeli informal settlements where property was destroyed.