Three people missing as floods sweep away houses in Samburu

Three people are missing after floods swept away their houses at Arsin village in Samburu North Sub County.

Samburu County Kenya Red Cross Coordinator Maurice Onyango said his team is on the ground working with the community to trace the missing people.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Onyango said fifteen other households have also been affected by the ongoing floods.

“We are doing a detailed assessment that will inform us on the level of effects of the floods at the village and possible response options,” he said.

Residents living on the lower areas have been called upon to be extra vigilant and move to other raised places in order to avoid loss of lives and property.

“According to the meteorological department, there is information that rains will still go on and especially those who are living at the low areas we are requesting that they be vigilant and if possible they move to higher grounds so that their safety can be guaranteed,” he advised.

Unknown number of livestock have also been swept away by the floods.

Recently, Samburu North residents had called upon county government to lobby for funds from National Government to invest in construction of water dams along River Baragoi in Samburu North to harvest rain water.

According to the residents, construction of at least two to four water dams along the river will enable them harvest and preserve enough rainfall for domestic, irrigation and watering livestock in future.

Permanent Secretary in charge of crop production at the Ministry of Agriculture Dr Richard Lesiyampe said there is a need for national and county governments to work together to harvest and preserve rain water in areas that are receiving heavy rainfall across the county.

He said national government will support the county government in the next financial year to construct small water dams to harvest water for use during drought.

“We have made plans of ensuring that we have built small water dams in every village so that residents can save the rain water and preserve the commodity for use during drought season,” he said.