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Govt to charge Kenyans crossing floodwaters with attempted murder

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki addresses the media in Narok Town, after finalising a county security meeting, on March 25, 2024. (Photo: Kithure Kindiki)

By Amina Wako | 29 Apr 2024

Kindiki cited tragedies that have occurred in different parts of the country during the last 24 hours, among them the Madogo tragedy.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has issued a stern warning to Kenyans who attempt to cross flooded bridges, threatening to charge them with attempted suicide or attempted murder.

In a directive to the County Security and Intelligence Committees on Monday, Kindiki ordered the deployment of enforcement teams to all areas prone to flooding, instructing them to prevent motorists and pedestrians from making dangerous crossovers.

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Those who defy the directive will face arrest and prosecution.

"We will not stand by and watch as people risk their lives and the lives of others," Kindiki said. "We will arrest and prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law."

"We are deeply concerned by the loss of life and destruction caused by the floods, and we will do everything in our power to mitigate the situation," Kindiki said.

The CS also ordered the arrest of individuals transporting passengers across flooded rivers or stormwater using unsafe canoes or boats, accusing them of taking advantage of the situation to profit from those in distress.

Kindiki cited tragedies that have occurred in different parts of the country during the last 24 hours, among them the Madogo tragedy, in which a boat capsized last evening en route from Mororo Village in Tana River County to Garissa Town.

"So far, 23 people have been rescued, and two bodies have been retrieved. Families whose relatives may still be missing are asked to make missing person reports at the nearest police station," Kindiki urged.

He also mentioned the combination of flash floods and a landslide that swept off people, houses, and cars in two villages in Mai Mahiu, within Nakuru County, resulting in the deaths of scores of people.

The government's tough stance comes as the country grapples with the devastating effects of ongoing floods, which have claimed nearly 300 lives, according to Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen, and destroyed public and private property.

Speaking in Mai Mahiu, where a dam tragedy claimed at least 71 lives, Murkomen urged Kenyans to heed the government’s directive and vacate flood-prone areas, avoid crossing flooded rivers, and avoid night travel except when essential.

"We have lost... Currently, we are counting maybe 300 people who have died. They did not have to die. It is through recklessness and drivers forcing themselves through water that we have the problem we have," Murkomen stated.

Earlier, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura stated that the figure stood at over 100, without including the recent Mai Mahiu tragedy, which claimed at least 71 lives.

The death toll in Mai Mahiu and across the country is expected to continue rising with the police, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the Kenya Red Cross conducting search and rescue operations in affected areas.