Death toll from floods rises to 38 as over 110,000 Kenyans displaced

The death toll from the ongoing floods in the country has hit 38, with the Kenya Red Cross now warning that the flood situation is moving from an emergency to a disaster level.

Over 60 families in Kirinyaga County have been rendered homeless after River Thiba burst its banks, leaving behind a trail of misery and destruction.

The affected residents were rudely woken up during the night by waters from the flooded river, forcing hundreds including children to spend the night in the cold after their homes were completely submerged. Property of unknown value was also destroyed by the floods.

"It is bad, it is a disaster. The people we find mostly getting affected are the people without alternatives, we are trying as much as possible with our teams to map out the populations at risk," Venant Ndhigila, Head of disaster Operations, Kenya Red Cross, said.

Kirinyaga residents say the floods are a perennial problem every time it rains.

"We are suffering here all along, every time as you can see. We thought this would be the solution," Peter Ndegwa, one of the residents, said.

The new fatalities bring to over 110,000 the number of people who have been affected by floods across the country, with 24 counties worst hit.

Nairobi leads with the number of casualties and fatalities. The situation is expected to get worse with the weatherman now predicting enhanced rainfall in the coming week.

Subsequently, Central Regional Commissioner Fredrick Shisia has appealed to those living in low lands to move to safer grounds until the situation normalises, warning that the continued rains may trigger mud slides in the region.

The Kenya Met Department has warned of above-average rainfall in most parts of the country with flooding expected in low-lying areas, those in flood plains as well as in urban areas with poor drainage.