Floods destroy over 100 homes in Turkana, sweep away livestock in Tana River

In Turkana County, more than 100 houses were destroyed by flash floods, with transport services disrupted in several areas. In Tana River County, more than 200 head of livestock were swept away by raging floodwaters, highlighting the scale of destruction caused by the ongoing rains.

The expanse of floodwater in Kote village, Tana River County, illustrated the impact of the heavy rains that pounded the area on Friday night.

Some residents were left trying to retrieve the carcasses of their livestock, while others were too distraught to make the attempt.

What began as heavy rainfall on Friday evening intensified overnight, sweeping through homes and livestock. By Saturday morning, residents of Kote village were assessing the damage to their livelihoods.

“Mifugo ilikuwa mia tatu na tatu saa hii ile kitu ambayo wenzetu wamekuja kutusaidia na kutuokolea ni mbuzi ishirini na tatu ama ishirini na nne pekee ndiyo imebaki,” said a Kote resident Abdinoor Hassan.

The floods also swept away household belongings, leaving some families with little more than the livestock that survived. Residents are appealing for urgent assistance from the government and well-wishers.

“Bakuli na na nguo na sufuria yote walienda sasa hakuna chochote yenye tumbaki nayo isipokuwa ni hiyo mbuzi peke yake sasa unaomba ndugu zetu Waislamu na serikali watusaidie mapema,” Abdi Chure added.

Kote village has also been cut off after floodwaters covered roads, putting pedestrians and motorists at risk of being swept downstream into River Tana.

“Tumetoka Madogo saa tatu kufika hapa saa hii ni saa tisa na imechukua juhudi. Tulijaribu hata na gari ya polisi lakini wao pia walishindwa, ikabidi tupande boda boda ndiyo tumefika na wao,” Madogo MCA Juma Dido stated.

In Turkana County, more than 100 families were also affected after flash floods destroyed their homes.

Amateur footage shows the state of roads in the vast county, where police officers transporting KCSE examination papers were stranded for more than an hour on Friday afternoon.

According to the Kenya Meteorological Department, rainfall is expected to persist into next week, raising concerns among residents of Turkana and Tana River counties.

With continued rainfall forecast, the extent of further flooding remains uncertain. The department has urged Kenyans to remain cautious as the rains continue.