How man, daughter cheated death during Mai Mahiu flooding

A vast swath of mud, uprooted trees, and flattened homes now scars the landscape of Mai Mahiu, straddling the border of Nakuru and Kiambu counties.

“In the early hours of Monday, a deafening roar jolted us awake as a torrent of water cascaded down from upstream,” recounted residents who spoke of a night filled with frantic rescue efforts amidst the raging floodwaters and suffocating mud.

Deden Muiri, aged 60, vividly recalls the terrifying moment when the floodwaters engulfed him, separating him from his wife and sweeping them in opposite directions.

“As the water surged around me, I resigned myself to what I believed was certain death,” he recounted. “But miraculously, I managed to grab hold of a tree branch and cling to it for dear life.”

Muiri’s daughter, who knew how to swim, heroically rescued two of her children amidst the chaos.

Upon arrival, the scene was one of utter devastation, with survivors assessing the damage, sifting through debris, and grappling with the magnitude of the tragedy.

Peter Munyinge, whose own house remained standing amidst the wreckage, described the harrowing scene: “Babies, elderly folks… the air was filled with screams and cries as people lost their lives and loved ones.”

Joining the search and rescue efforts, the Kenya Red Cross reported a grim update, with emergency response manager Anthony Muchiri confirming the death toll had climbed to 50.

“This is the most devastating disaster I’ve ever witnessed,” Muchiri lamented, noting not just the loss of homes but the obliteration of entire communities.

Of the bodies recovered thus far, 17 were children, according to police commander Stephen Kirui.

Initially attributed to a burst dam by local officials, the Kenyan Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation later clarified that the incident resulted from a blocked tunnel, diverting the River Tongi under a railway line due to debris accumulation during heavy rains.

With the disaster affecting small villages like Kamuchiri and Kianugu, where entire neighborhoods were swept away, the government has postponed the reopening of schools across Kenya in anticipation of further rainfall.

Over 130,000 people have been displaced by the floods, seeking refuge in makeshift shelters, including schools, as the country braces for more inclement weather.