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Kenya floods: 19 more deaths raise toll to 257

A man pulls fabric after heavy flash floods wiped out several homes following heavy rains in the Kamuchiri Village of Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, on April 30, 2024. (Photo: John Muchucha/Reuters)

By Lucy Mumbi | 08 May 2024

The number of people injured in the aftermath of the heavy rains is now 188 while 293,661 individuals have been displaced so far.

The death toll from the heavy rains and floods across the country rose to 257 on Wednesday, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura announced, saying 14 adults and five children were reported dead in the last 24 hours.

Mwaura further reported that the number of wounded people was 188 and that 54,837 families, or 293,661 individuals, had been displaced.

Mwaura also said that 61 health facilities in 11 counties had been affected, and crops on approximately 9,816 acres of land had been destroyed.

Further, 44 cholera cases have been reported so far, with the Ministry of Health and the Kenya Red Cross Society conducting medical outreach and disease control programmes for this and other waterborne diseases in Tana River and Marsabit counties.

Mwaura noted the continued impact of the floods on the economy, in the key sectors of transport, housing, education, health, and agriculture, but assured the government's commitment to protecting lives and property by enhancing interventions.

More rain to come

The latest weather forecast indicates that heavy rainfall and thunderstorms will continue in 31 counties.

Flooding is expected in low-lying, urban, and riparian areas, while landslides and mudslides may occur in palaces with steep slopes, escarpments, and ravines.

The affected regions are the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, Central and Eastern.

"Occasional rainfall is also forecasted in Nairobi and along the Coast region, affecting the Tana River, Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Lamu counties,” Mwaura said.

Lake Victoria and Lake Baringo are expected to continue causing backflow and flooding in counties in the Lake Victoria and Lake Baringo basins.

Mwaura warned that continuous heavy rains in the Central region and the overflow of the Seven Forks Dams pose the risk of increased flooding in Tana Delta, Garissa, Tana River, and Lamu counties.

However, North Eastern counties such as Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera, and Garissa, and those in the South Eastern regions (Taita Taveta, Kitui, and Tana River) will experience favourable weather, with temperatures of more than 30°C.

The government spokesperson said this will set the stage for post-flood recovery initiatives in public works, including the reconstruction of schools, the repair of water treatment systems, road work, and improvements to the accessibility of social and economic facilities.

Mwaura added that essential food supplies of rice and beans totaling 1,226,400 kg have been distributed to affected communities in Busia, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Machakos, Makueni, Tana River, Kilifi, Nakuru, Garissa, Turkana, Isiolo, Migori, Kajiado, Nairobi, Nyandarua, Kiambu, and Muranga counties.

Thirty public health officials have been deployed for the risk assessment of the 167 camps for internally displaced people, including the evaluation of safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene points.