NAKURU, Kenya, Jan 2 – At least seven people have been killed and a number of others are missing after flash floods in Naivasha, Nakuru and Koibatek districts.
Four people were killed by floods following heavy rain in Mogotio, Koibatek district.
Witnesses said the victims drowned after strong water currents overpowered them.
Dozens of people had to be moved as rivers burst their banks.
John Kimutai, a resident, said it had been a "horrendous" night but the water was now receding.
The government has been forced to step up efforts to evict people from dangerous areas as some have been reluctant to leave their houses, despite the danger of being swept by the floods.
In Naivasha, at least two people were swept away by floods following two days of torrential rainfall.
"Two Pastors drowned at Miti Mingi in Elementaita," area Deputy Police commander Paul Kisang said.
The two had gone to work on their farm on the banks of River Nderit when they were swept away.
About 50 families were evacuated from their homes in the area and many more were forced to move to higher grounds.
Meanwhile a seven year old boy drowned at Nyondia in Nakuru when a motorbike he was riding on was swept away by flood water.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has said that the suddenness and unanticipated strength of the rains was the result of the El Nino weather pattern.
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