Counties
Met warns of floods in rainy season
Villagers transport their household goods from flooded homes in Kamalunga village in Usonga, Siaya District on December 4, 2011. Raging floods left 14 people dead and more than 14,000 homeless since the onset of the short rains in October last year. Photo | Nation Media Group
Posted Sunday, September 9 2012 at 12:16
In Summary
- Met has also warned that heavy storms accompanied by lightning are expected in Western Kenya especially Kisii, Nandi and Kakamega.
- Areas prone to malaria outbreaks are Kisii, Kakamega, Tana River and the Lake Basin areas.
- Landslides and mudslides in Murang’a and Nandi Hills are to be expected.
Residents of flood prone areas of Kano plains in Nyanza and Budalang’i in Busia county have been put on high alert.
Kenya meteorological services has indicated possible flooding during the rainy season that starts in the month of October to December.
The enhanced rainfall may also see flooding in Northeastern areas around Garissa, lower Tana.
Director of Meteorological Services Dr Joseph Mukabana said landslides and mudslides in Murang’a and Nandi Hills are to be expected.
Met has also warned that heavy storms accompanied by lightning are expected in Western Kenya especially Kisii, Nandi and Kakamega.
Dr Mukabana advised members of public against sheltering under trees as this renders them vulnerable to electrocution.
He called for creation of community disaster response plans that prioritise saving of assets and food stocks by government.
“Areas like Northeastern and Southeastern Kenya currently experiencing food shortage are still in need of humanitarian emergency assistance up to the long-rains season in 2013,” he said.
Dr Mukabana also warned of malaria outbreaks in Kisii, Kakamega, Tana River and the Lake Basin areas.
“Malaria control interventions should, therefore, be scaled up so as to combat such outbreaks,” he said.
He added that flooding in these areas could also lead to water-borne diarrhoea diseases like Cholera, typhoid and dysentery, requiring appropriate intervention measures.
Mr Evans Asena, who works with WKCDD/FM, a development organisation in Western Kenya, however said the design for the construction of new dykes in flood prone areas like Budalangi is set to be complete by December.
Mr Asena said that the current dykes were too old and there is need for new dykes to avert possible flooding in the area.
Areas that will receive above-normal rainfall include Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma, Vihiga Teso,Kisumu, Siaya, Nyamira, Kisii, Migori, Homa Bay,Kericho, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Nakuru, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Bomet, West Pokot, Narok, Kajiando, and Laikipia.
Others are Kiambu, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Kirinyanga , Murang’a,Makueni, Machakos, Kitui, Meru ,Embu ,Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu, Tana River, Kwale, Taita Taveta,Mandera, Garissa, Wajir.
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