Brace for more rains, Government says

Fresh floods at Nyamsaria estate in Kisumu county after river Auji bursts its banks. [File, Standard]

Kenyans have been asked to brace for more rain starting Sunday, December 10.

Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura through his Twitter account said that rainfall is anticipated across the country from December 10 to 15, 2023.

Areas expected to receive the rain are Lake Victoria Basin, central highlands, southeastern lowlands, southern rift valley, the coastal strip and western Kenya.

Parts of the Northwest and Northeast may also see occasional rains.

Residents have been asked to take caution by adhering to weather and flood alerts to avert more injuries and fatalities.

The Northern Kenya region is expected to maintain sunny and dry conditions.

According to the government Tana River's floodwaters persist and have caused disruptions along the coastal region, particularly affecting the Garsen Lamu road.

In his last flood update, Mwaura said that three Kenyans from Tharaka Nithi, Nandi and Migori counties have died raising the death toll to 168.

"We appeal to Kenyans to avoid flooded areas, cooperate with evacuators and strictly adhere to flood and weather alerts to avert more fatalities and injuries," he said.

Some 109,033 households have been affected by the floods which has seen 545,515 people get displaced in different regions across the country.

According to Mwaura, the government is working to repair damaged roads, he said that the Mogodashe - Habaswein road where a convoy of trucks was stuck has since been restored.

"The Coast Guards and the Kenya Navy are facilitating passenger movement on the cut-off section of the Lamu - Witu road, particularly at Gamba in the Lando la Simba area," he said.

The government says that out of the 115 reported Cholera cases in Lamu County, only two are positive, the rest have either recovered or tested negative.

Mwaura says that the Kenya Defence Forces have been supplying safe water for the residents of the affected regions.

The Kenya Medical Supplies Association has dispatched 164 tonnes of medical supplies to the affected counties and Turkana County is expected to receive 11 tonnes.

"The Meteorological Department forecasts show that rains will increase in intensity from mid-December and we advise Kenyans in flood-prone areas to move to higher grounds."