Disaster teams issue landslides alert as floods ravage country

Annah Wamboi, 53, salvages her bedding after her house was destroyed by floods in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

A humanitarian crisis is emerging in areas grossly affected by floods as national leadership mulls over solutions to the problem that appears not to be ceding in several counties.

This is happening as health workers in Nyanza raise concerns over the growing cases of malaria in the camps hosting families displaced by floods.

In the Rift Valley region, the destructive floods have brought activities in several towns and villages to a standstill as a result of the heavy trail of destruction in homes and vital infrastructure.

As this happened, the death toll from the floods increased after one body was found floating in the swollen River Suam in West Pokot County as heavy rains continued to cause devastating damage in most parts of the country.

The discovery of the body comes as local residents express fears over the rising water levels at Turkwel Dam in West Pokot.

Authorities have however moved to dispel any fears among residents adjacent to the dam saying there is no cause for alarm.

In Narok County, floods have damaged roads, and bridges, destroyed crops in farms, and submerged homes.

According to authorities, seven people including, two university students, and five members of one family, have died in mudslides in villages neighbouring the Maasai Mau forest.

Over 100 people have been out of their homes, according to a media brief issued by Narok County Commissioner Kipkoech Lotiatia.

Some of the roads that have been destroyed by storm waters are Ewuaso Ngiro-Naroosura road, Enengipire-Olokurto-olepusimoru road, Suswa-Kibiko-Ngong road, and Eworr ekule-Sakutiek road that has been rendered impassable.

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has issued a public notice advising motorists and pedestrians to avoid some sections of the roads that have been submerged or eroded by the floods.

Dams alert

In the May 1 notice, KeNHA informed the public of the closure of Ewuaso Ngiro-Naroosura (B19) road at Oldonyo Orasha river crossing following the overtopping of a 120-vented drift as a result of heavy rains.

The agency also announced 12-hour closure of Kedong Ranch-Suswa road due to heavy debris and siltation for over two kilometres stretch of the road caused by persistent heavy rains. The closure is to facilitate clearing operations.

In Nakuru County, authorities have issued a warning to residents of Molo sub-county after several dams started overflowing due to the ongoing rains.

The county government has issued an alert saying that Ngenda, Sagaitim and Ndenderu B dams are full and overflowing, risking the lives of residents.

Governor Susan Kihika’s administration has also indicated that Chandera swamp and Mkorombosi River, whose banks are broken, pose a risk to residents.

The county executive in charge of infrastructure Michael Karanja said a team, that includes engineers, has been deployed in the affected area to assess the risk levels.

In the neighbouring Baringo county, danger lurks on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway near Timboroa main bus terminus after floods washed away a culvert, leaving the road hanging precariously.

KeNHA has issued a notice to motorists cautioning them against any attempts to use the section of the road. “Motorists have been re-routed to diversion within Timboroa area. All road users are requested to exercise caution, avoid overlapping and follow directions from traffic marshals to ensure smooth follow of traffic,” read the notice.

According to residents, a large volume of water had accumulated due to the blocked culvert, which burst at around 5am.

“The blocked culvert led to piling up of large amounts of water on one side of the road. At about 5am we heard a loud noise as a result of pressure that washed away the culvert, leaving the highway hanging,” said Isaac Waweru, a resident.

At Salgaa trading centre, several homes and businesses were submerged following the flooding in the area, which local residents attributed to overflow from dams.

Tens of homes and businesses, including petrol stations, remained submerged.

“The dams operated by flower farms are already overflowing and the result is flooding downstream. We have been out in the cold for days because our homes are flooded,” Elijah Ndenyere, a resident, said.

Those living in landslide-prone Kunyak village in Kipkelion West constituency have been asked to exercise caution due to heavy rains.

Meanwhile, residents of Budalang’i have petitioned the national government to find a lasting solution to perennial floods in the area.

They said a quick solution must be sought to ensure learners, currently staying in temporary camps with their parents in the flood-prone constituency, report to school next week without fail.

The residents say they were ready to be resettled elsewhere, by the government.  Initially, residents were adamant that they would not move and abandon the graves of their ancestors and grandparents.

However, the raging floods that have left a trail of destruction appear to have forced them to change their collective mind.

Area MP Raphael Wanjala urged President William Ruto to declare the raging floods a national disaster.

At least ten schools in Bunyala South and Bunyala West have been submerged following heavy rains pounding the area.

Yala which often break banks whenever it rains heavily in the upper parts of Western.

In Kakamega, the county administration has intensified efforts to prevent floods in Navakholo, Mumias West, and Lugari Sub-Counties.

In Homa Bay, a free medical camp organised by God Will Provide and conducted by Beryl’s Medical Centre, revealed that more than 500 people are suffering from malaria at the Osodo rescue camp.

[Reports by George Sayagie, Nikko Tanui, Caroline Chebet, James Munyeki, Irrisheel Shanzu, James Omoro and Mary Imenza]