Transport paralysed as floods cut off regions

Construction workers at the collapsed Kainuk bridge along the Kitale-Lodwar road. Thousand of passengers have been inconvenienced after the bridge collapsed following heavy rains in the region. PHOTO BY BAKARI ANG'ELA 11.8.2017

Four people have died, hundreds of families left homeless and transport paralysed in Marsabit following heavy rains.

Two people drowned at Ollob village in Kalacha, North Horr constituency, as a result of raging floods while two others were reportedly killed in Logologo, Laisamis constituency, on Tuesday.

The heavy downpour also left a trail of destruction in North Horr, Laisamis and Saku where hundreds of families have been rendered homeless.

Hundreds of livestock have also died in flooding incidents.

Marsabit Governor Muhammud Ali yesterday said among those who drowned on Tuesday were two herders.

"They were driving their camels back to the village when they were swept away by floods," said Mr Ali.

Raging floods

In Logologo, two other people were swept away by raging floods that also marooned the trading centre.

Marsabit County Commissioner Mwangi Meru said one of the people killed at Logologo was a pupil.

"Kalacha is only accessible by helicopter and most parts of North Horr from Maikona, Kalacha to Illeret are submerged in water. The entire area is cut off from Marasbit town," said the governor.

In Saku, floods submerged houses while in Dirib Gobo and Jaldesa, several houses were destroyed.

The county administration and the Kenya Red Cross Society officials distributed relief food, utensils and blankets to affected families in Saku on Tuesday.

Yesterday, the team was in North Horr and Logologo to assess damage and distribute relief aid.

And the collapse of the Kainuk bridge on the Kitale-Turkana road has affected transport in the region.

Motorists travelling to Lodwar from Kitale are now forced to use Lokiriama route which is longer. They have to drive through Kitale, Kapenguria, Kacheliba, Lorengippi and Lokiriama. The link is 419km, which is longer by 100km compared to the direct Kitale-Lodwar route.

“We are not sure of reaching our destination due to insecurity along the route,” said Arukudi Ewoi, a commuter along the route.

The situation has caused bus fare to shoot from Sh1,500 to Sh2,500. Food prices in the region have also increased.

“We have been counting losses since the bridge collapsed. We have perishable goods that we had hoped to sell,” said Mary Ater, a businesswoman.

The bridge collapsed last week following heavy rains that are pounding the region.

The Kenya National Highway Authority Assistant Director for Corporate Communication Charles Njogu said bridge repair will be completed by today.

Turkana County Executive Committee member for Infrastructure, Transport and Roads Tioko Logiron said the situation would normalise soon.

The bridge was washed away on Sunday night by heavy rains that have been experienced in the county over the past few days. It was the second time the Kainuk bridge was being washed away in two weeks.

The bridge is the main link between Kitale, Turkana County. Those travelling to South Sudan also depend on the bridge.