Residents navigate floodwaters in Kitengela, Kajiado County, Kenya, following heavy rainfall that caused a seasonal river to overflow its banks. Date: May 1, 2024. IMAGE |Courtesy.
In Summary:
- Heavy rains wreak havoc across Kenya, claiming the lives of 238 individuals and leaving 75 missing.
- Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura disclosed the grim statistics on Tuesday, highlighting widespread displacement and destruction of property.
- Nairobi bears the brunt of the casualties, with over 164,000 people affected, while other counties, including Makueni, Nyandarua, Nakuru, and Bomet, grapple with floods and landslides.
The toll of the relentless downpours sweeping Kenya rises as 238 people succumb to the floodwaters, with 75 more individuals unaccounted for. Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura conveyed the harrowing figures, shedding light on the widespread devastation gripping the nation.
Nairobi emerges as the epicenter of the crisis, bearing witness to over 164,000 residents grappling with the aftermath of the deluge.
The calamity extends its reach to other regions, with Makueni, Nyandarua, Nakuru, and Bomet counties also bearing the brunt of nature’s fury.
Landslides compound the woes, exacerbating the already dire situation. Isaac Mwaura underscored the extensive damage inflicted, citing the loss of lives, livelihoods, and property as a grim reality confronting many Kenyan communities.
The onslaught of the relentless rains unleashes havoc, inundating villages in Baringo and Nakuru and disrupting critical infrastructure like the railway line.
An estimated 7,000 acres of land lay ravaged, while 4,000 cattle are swept away by the merciless currents. The Masinga Dam spills over, exacerbating the flooding, while River Nyando breaches its banks, impeding transportation and disrupting daily life.
“Villages have been marooned in Baringo and Nakuru and the railway line was also disrupted by landslide…7,000 acres were destroyed and 4,000 cattle swept,” Mwaura said.
In response to the crisis, the government takes decisive action, postponing school reopening and acknowledging that close to 600,000 learners face uncertainty as their schools either shelter displaced families or lie in ruins. Isaac Mwaura outlines the government’s commitment to providing relief, with plans underway to construct 20,000 housing units in Nairobi and Kisumu to accommodate the displaced.
“20,000 units will be put up in Nairobi where they will pay Ksh.3,000 rent as mortgage and the programme will also come to Kisumu,” he said.
Moreover, stringent measures are enforced to prevent future tragedies, with a ban on settlements within a 30-meter radius of water bodies. Multi-agency efforts are underway to mitigate the crisis, with rescue operations and distribution of essential supplies underway.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and National Youth Service (NYS) play pivotal roles in evacuating affected communities to safety, ensuring humane treatment and temporary shelter for displaced families.