Mai-Mahiu tragedy death toll hits 58

The death toll from the Mai Mahiu tragedy has hit 58 after more bodies were recovered along the flood pathway in an exercise led by KDF officers.

Three more bodies including that of a minor were retrieved even as more rains continued to pound the area raising fears of more flooding.

This came as the national and Nakuru County government moved to close the Ngeya Secondary IDP camp by relocating the victims to rented houses and a nearby children’s home.

According to Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, the support of KDF officers had seen more bodies recovered hitting the 58 mark.

Speaking in Mai Mahiu, she said that 32 people were still missing as the search was widened to. neighbouring villages and dams where the floods swept through.

“We shall be holding a Memorial service next week for the victims and the government will support the burial exercise,” she said.

She added the county had rented houses for 56 households while the rest would go to the children’s home.

On her part, Gilgil MP Martha Wangari called on Kenyans to heed government directives and move away from flooded areas.

Wangari who led area residents in donating to the affected families said that they had identified affected areas in Gilgil.

“This is a national tragedy and we should join hands in supporting the affected and make sure we move away from water ways to avoid more deaths,” she said

Naivasha MP Jane Kihara expressed her concern over the rising water levels in the area as more dams in the upper areas filled.

“We have seen the intensity of water flowing from upper areas rise and we are worried by Magena dam which has filled up,” he said

Others who spoke were Bishop Ben Kiengei fron JCM Church who called on Kenyans to stop driving or walking through flooded sections to avoid unnecessary deaths.