Five people swept away by flash floods

By STANDARD TEAM

Five people were swept away by flash floods in separate incidents.

Three children drowned at Kamailel village in Marigat District, Baringo County. ? Witnesses said the deceased were heading to the nearby Kamailel shopping centre when the incident occurred following heavy rains in Lotiging Hills. ?

The children of Mr Samuel Chelugo were identified as Jeruto, 6, Nelson, 4, and two-year-old Fredrick.

“There was no rain by that time but heavy rains had hit the upper part of the hills leading to massive flash floods flowing downhill which caught the children unawares,” Mr David Nyamasia, a neighbour, told The Standard.

?Area assistant chief Kimutai Wendot said villagers heard the distress call of the children and rushed to the scene but could not rescue them because of the floods.?

“It was around 5pm when I was called by the residents that three children had been swept away by floods, but unfortunately it was too late for any of them to be saved,” he said.?

Marigat OCPD Otulia Kaunya confirmed the incident saying the bodies had been moved to Kabarnet District Hospital mortuary. Local leaders led by area MP Grace Kipchoim urged the constituents to exercise caution during the rainy season to avert loss of lives and property.?

In the second incident the family of the immediate former Narok South MP Nkoidila Lankas is mourning after a relative was swept away by a flash floods in Narok town.

Relatives of Lasit Lankas, 38, said he drowned on Monday after floods swept him into Narok-Enkare River as he was going home following heavy rains that pounded the area for about four hours.

“He was walking home after the rains flooded some sections of the town before the incident occurred,” said Mr David Mepukori, the deceased’s cousin.

Retrieved

Police retrieved the body yesterday morning several metres from the town and took it to Narok North District Hospital Mortuary.

Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), said the number of people who have been swept away by floods and killed by landslides has reached 25. On Sunday night a four-year-old boy was killed by a landslide at Sintakara village, Narok East.

Area KRCS co-ordinator Ali Juma has asked residents of Narok town to stay indoors during rains and those living in landslide-prone areas to move to higher grounds.

The official added that more than 300 families in Suswa have been displaced and KRCS was going to provide humanitarian aid.

Elsewhere, Gathirika village in Kipipiri Nyandarua County is in mourning after a three-month-old toddler was washed away by flash floods.

 The body of the minor was recovered hours later as the ongoing rains continued to pound the agriculture-rich area.

Witness said the minor had been left in a house as the parents worked on a nearby farm before disaster struck.

– Reports by Robert Kiplagat, Kipchumba Kemei and Antony Gitonga