Heavy rains claim 188 lives, over 90 missing in devastating floods

At least 188 lives have been lost due to the relentless heavy rains across the country, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Additionally, 90 individuals are reported missing, with 125 injured as per the latest statement from the ministry.

Through a statement, the ministry said that, in total, an estimated 196,296 people have been impacted by the relentless rains.

Moreover, the flash floods have disrupted the education sector, with 1,967 schools affected by flooding.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki in addition noted that emergency response teams from Narok County alongside the County Security team and Red Cross successfully evacuated 90 individuals in coordinated efforts by ground and aerial units in the Masai Mara where 19 lodges were flooded after River Talek overflowed.

“No fatalities reported and a tracing desk has been set up at the Masai Mara Sekenani Gate,” he said.

In Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County 151 Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) are actively engaged, where 52 deceased persons have been retrieved and 51 people still missing following the mudslide tragedy.

Mai Mahiu-Narok Road is now clear and open for traffic movement.

At least 400 National Youth Service (NYS) members have been deployed to reinforce the ongoing search and rescue operations in Mai Mahiu and Talek Area, Narok County.

A Nationwide assessment of all dams has been conducted and 192 dams were identified to be high risk in Central (60), Eastern (39), Rift Valley (29), Coast (22), Western (21), Nairobi (12), North Eastern (5), and Nyanza (4).

Kindiki stated that inspection teams have been dispatched to ascertain the dams’ integrity.

He said there is a need for food, medical kits and non-food items in the counties where search and rescue operations are still ongoing including Nairobi, Kirinyaga, Homa Bay and Tana River Counties.

It is expected that there will be favourable weather in the North Eastern (Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa) and South Eastern (Taita Taveta, Kitui, Tana River) regions.

This, Kindiki said, sets the stage for post-flood recovery initiatives in public works, the reconstruction of schools, repairs to water treatment systems, road repairs and improvements to the accessibility of social and economic facilities.

He, however, noted that in over 28 counties, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms have been experienced.

This is in the Western region (Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia); Lake Victoria Basin (Kisumu, Kisii, Nyamira, Migori, Siaya, Homabay); Rift Valley (Nandi, Bomet, Nakuru, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Baringo, Uasin Gishu and Narok); Central (Nyeri, Muranga, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Laikipia); Upper Eastern (Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Meru) and Nairobi.

In the last 24 hours, Nairobi, Kajiado, Nakuru, Mandera and Homa Bay Counties have suffered from flooding, with landslides and mudslides continuing to occur in Muranga and Nakuru Counties.