NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 5 – At least six people have been confirmed dead and close to 200 livestock swept away by flash floods in parts of the country according to the Kenya Red Cross Society.
Communications Manager Titus Mung’ou said on Friday that two people died in Nakuru, one person in Mogotio and three children drowned in Marsabit.
He said in Nakuru two people drowned at Kaptembwa area in Rhoda Location.
“They were riding on boda boda bicycles. A body of a man was recovered, but efforts to recover a woman’s body are ongoing,” he said.
Mr Mung’ou said property of unknown value has also been destroyed Samburu, Isiolo, Nakuru and other parts affected by floods.
“In Garbatulla we are talking about 120 families that have been displaced by floods,” Mr Mung’ou said.
“In Mandera because of a river that has burst its banks in Ethiopia, we have had an impact also. We have had high alerts in the Western region in parts of Budalangi’, Nyando and Nyakach where some schools have been affected,” he said
He said five people were reported missing and tens of manyattas destroyed by the raging floods while nearly 600 tourists and staff at 10 lodges in Samburu and Isiolo were also affected.
He said two bridges namely Marsabit and Serena were washed away by the floods but late on Thursday a Chinese company fixed a temporary bridge near Serena lodge, thereby enabling access to nearby lodges for recovery operations.
“But we say that the country is not entirely on high alert but is moving towards that and warnings will be given,” he cautioned.
“When it is on high alert we are talking of devastating displacements and almost impassable kinds of roads, the network destroyed but still high alert is declared when you find that the capacity of response is surpassed,” he said.
Mr Mung’ou said Kenya Red Cross Society personnel were making all efforts to reach the affected parts in Samburu and Isiolo although the teams have been hampered by impassable roads and flooded landscape.
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