More deaths as rains leave trail of destruction in Makueni

Boulder rests on a destroyed wall after the rains wreaked havoc in Makueni. [Stephen Nzioka, Standard]

A seven-year-old-girl died while her 10-year-old- brother was rushed to Kilungu Sub-County Hospital after their houses were hit by mudslides.

According to sources, the mudslides were characterised by heavy debris drifts and mudflows from top hills in Kyatuku Village in Kilungu Ward.

Kilungu sub-County Police Commander Kipkulei Kipkemboi, confirmed the incident.

“Yes, we had a girl killed, and another child rushed to a hospital for treatment,” he said.

 

On Saturday, the same mountainous region was pounded by heavy downpour which triggered landslides and killed two people after their houses were covered with mud.

According to the area MCA, Patrick Mbevi, more than 20 families are in dire need of humanitarian assistance in the area that gets affected every year.

The area is prone to such disasters. In instance is where in 2018, River Muuoni left 30 families stranded after it burst its banks leaving several homes covered with mud.

The catastrophic floods have also swept animals in low lying villages in Kola area where the feeder roads disconnecting several villages have been cut.

In the hilly Mbooni region, last week on Wednesday, a lady and a Boda Boda operator died after their motorcycle was swept away while they were crossing River Mitunduni, in Kithungo.

Despite the public launching body search, the body of the man is yet to be retrieved.

“So far we have been able to get one body, that of the woman,” said Mbooni West Police Commander Agnes Ojomong.

The woman was laid to rest on Saturday.

Still, in Mbooni, the same fate befell a matatu driver operating along Nairobi-Machakos-Mbooni route, who died after the vehicle was swept as he tried to cross flooded River Kalingile. 

Makueni Red Cross coordinator Robert Muli told the Standard that there were several households affected and the situation was getting worse with more people likely to be rendered homeless.

“An assessment is being done but I can confirm there are several households affected with the situation getting worse as the rains continue to pour,” Mr. Muli said

 

He established that there were families that had been evacuated to safer grounds in schools in Kaiti sub-county.

In the latest statistics, authorities have confirmed nine people have died in a span of two weeks from flood-related incidents in Makueni county.

Mr. Muli said non-food items such as mosquito nets, tents and bedding will be distributed when the assessment is completed in affected villages.

Meanwhile, in Kilome Constituency, one person drowned after committing suicide by jumping into Katilini Dam.