More rains to hit Coast, Western regions as Mwea residents count flood losses

The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned Kenyans living along the Coast and those in the Lake Victoria Basin and Western parts of the country of enhanced rainfall into June this year.

The weatherman has predicted that these rains may lead to flash floods in certain areas, urging residents to adhere to safety precautions.

This comes a day after more than 700 residents of Mwea In Kirinyaga County were displaced by floods.

Residents of Thiba area in Kirinyaga County are picking up the pieces and counting losses they incurred after Thiba River broke its banks causing flooding in the area on Wednesday night.

The heavy downpour that carried everything along its way was more of a curse than a blessing to the farming community.

"Hii mvua imetupeleka hasara sana na tunaona hatutavuna kitu kwa sababu maji ilikiuwa imeflood huku sana," said Luka Karimi, a rice farmer.

Another famer Stanley Irungu added: "Ile hasara tunagharamika ni ya maji kufunika mchele na mchele imefunikwa haiwezi kuwa tena."

With the heavy rains likely to continue in several parts of the country until June, Met has cautioned Kenyans living in lowland areas to stay informed about the changing weather patterns and adhere to safety precautions.

"What we foresee now is that most places in the country the coast where we are included are likely to have higher than normal rainfall, I am explaining this so that it's understood that when I mean normal I am talking about what is observed this month or this season compared to the long term average," said Gikungu.

According to the weatherman, the parts that are likely to receive improved and pro-longed rain into the first or second week of June are the Lake Victoria basin which includes:

Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Busia, Kisii, Nyamira, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega,Nandi, Bungoma,Vihiga and Western parts of Narok.

In the coastal region, the counties of Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu and the Coastal part of Tana River.

The weatherman has warned Kenyans to be vigilant adding that the rains may lead to flash floods in some areas.

More than 700 residents from three villages In Mwea, Kirinyaga County were rendered homeless following the Wednesday floods with property of unknown value destroyed.