Floods: Death toll rises to 188 as 165,500 persons displaced

A communiqué from the Interior Ministry said that the rising number has been occasioned by heavy rains in Nairobi, Kajiado, Nakuru, Mandera, and Homa Bay Counties within the last 24 hours as heavy flooding as landslides and mudslides continue to occur in Muranga and Nakuru Counties.

The ministry added that an additional 125 people have been reported injured and 90 persons are currently missing while an approximate 165,500 persons have been displaced and 33,100 households and 1,967 schools have been affected.

"Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms have been experienced over 28 Counties affecting approximately 196,296 people," read part of the statement.

Meanwhile, the government continues to make various interventions in collaboration with the County Governments, Kenya Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations.

The ministry added that there are currently 151 Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers actively engaged in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County where 52 deceased persons have been retrieved and 51 people are still missing following a mudslide tragedy.

"400 National Youth Service (NYS) have also been deployed to reinforce the ongoing search and rescue operations in both Mai Mahiu and the Talek Area," said the statement.

A Nationwide assessment of all dams is currently underway with inspection teams dispatched to ascertain the integrity of 192 dams identified to be high risk.

Individuals, groups and organizations have been urged to support in providing food, medical kits, sanitary kits and other nonfood items in counties where search and rescue operations are still ongoing.

A Meteorological Department seven-day forecast has warned that most parts of the nation will continue to get intense rains with thunderstorms.