Heavy Rains: State to forcefully evict people as death toll hits 194

The government will start to forcefully evict residents on the highlands to safer grounds as more heavy rains are predicated.

Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i announced that 30 more people had died from the floods in the last 24 hours bringing the total to 194.

The Interior CS said they had instructed the regional security team in North Eastern, parts of Eastern and the Coast to start moving people, adding that operations in Garissa and Tana River were ongoing.

“We have given instructions to our regional security team in North Eastern and parts of Eastern and Coast to begin moving people. We are not waiting for people to be swept downstream, we are moving some people away from danger using public resources.

“If we do not move the population we have along the water ways, we’re going to have disasters. We do not have an option; we’re moving some people out by force,” said CS Matiang’i.

Dr Matiang’i added that the moving of people will go on for the next two weeks until the government is satisfied that residents are out of danger.

“This alert level will remain in effect for the next 1-2 weeks as we continue to monitor the situations and advice from the MET department. We urge all Kenyans to adhere to directives from government as we combat both the floods and COVID-19 pandemic,” said Matiang’i.

Through their Twitter handle, the Kenya Meteorological Department on Tuesday warned that more heavy rains are expected over the weekend in Rift Valley, Parts of coast, Western and central parts of the country.