Four more killed by floods in Makueni and Kitui as number of people displaced hits 50,000

Kenya Red Cross has now put the number of people displaced by floods at 50,000 countrywide. 

Disaster management officials are worried about the possibility of waterborne disease outbreaks in affected areas. 

Since the short rainy season began, the North Eastern region has been hardest hit, with some areas entirely cut off by flood waters. 

El Wak town in Mandera whose name translates to "the wells of God" is home to roughly over 60,000 people who have to look for alternative shelter after it was completely submerged. 

Other affected areas are Diff and Buna in Wajir county, as well as the Ifo refugee camp in Dadaab completely immersed in flood waters frustrating any attempts to get much-needed aid to residents.

The situation now has disaster management officials worried about what’s to come should the rains persist.

“Our main concern is not just the immediate impact of the floods but the secondary impact of waterborne diseases,” Dr. Ahmed Idris – Kenya Red Cross Secretary General said.

So far, Marsabit has recorded an outbreak of Malaria.

 “The government has already started supporting. From our reports yesterday we were talking about 9,000 people affected but now you’ve just heard it is 50,000 people,” Cabinet Secretary for East Africa and ASAL Areas Penninah Malonza said.

Transport from Wajir to Mandera has been completely cut off after the bridge in Kutulo was swept away by floods. 

It was a similar situation in Nandi County where transport came to a standstill along the Kamurguywo - Samoo road in Kapsabet, after the bridge connecting the village was destroyed by the heavy rains.

A swollen Tana River wreaked havoc marooning entire villages. Close to 200 homes suffered damage forcing residents to seek shelter on higher ground.

“We are categorising people in terms of need. Some need shelter or food,” Kenya Red Cross - Regional Coordinator at the Coast Hassan Musa noted.

The concern now is the flood waters here that will flow down to the Tana Delta in the next few days, will affect nearly two thousand people living there.

Swollen rivers became deadly in Makueni where two people were swept away by the Kavuti River in Mukaa sub-county and another two were swept away by the flooded Ithekethe River in Kitui West. 

In its forecast for the week ahead, the Kenya Meteorological Department has shown significant rainfall expected for areas, like Mwingi, Machakos, Kitui, Makueni, Murang'a, Tharaka Nithi, Meru and Embu among others. 

The western region including, Busia, Kakamega and Vihiga Counties will also experience heavy downpours as well as parts of the Coast, Nyanza and Kisii regions.