Kenya: Floods death toll hits 188

Flooded homes in Mathare Slums, Nairobi. [Standard]

The death toll from heavy rains and floods across the country has hit 188 after nine more bodies were retrieved. 

So far, at least ninety (90) people are still missing, with 125 others injured while approximately 165,500 persons have been displaced by the floods.

The Ministry of Interior on Thursday, May 2, confirmed that a contingent of 151 Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers are actively engaged in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County where fifty-two (52) people have so far been retrieved and more than 50 others reported missing following the Monday tragedy.

The Mai Mahiu-Narok Road has also been cleared and opened for traffic. 

Emergency response teams have successfully evacuated 90 people, in coordinated efforts by ground and aerial units within the Masai Mara Game Reserve where 19 lodges were flooded after Talek River overflowed. 

"No fatalities were reported and a tracing desk has been set up at the Masai Mara Sekenani Gate. 400 National Youth Service (NYS) have also been deployed to reinforce the ongoing search and rescue operations in both Mai Mahiu and the Talek Area.," the Ministry added. 

Presently, a nationwide assessment of all dams is underway with inspection teams on the ground to ascertain the extent of damage to 192 dams identified to be high risk. 

Nairobi, Kajiado, Nakuru, Mandera, and Homa Bay Counties are the most affected by the flooding in the last 24 hours as landslides and mudslides continue to occur in Murang'a and Nakuru counties.