Three more killed as rivers burst banks

More than 2,000 people have been displaced in Malindi and Magarini after the Sabaki River burst its banks even as the weathermen warned of more heavy rains.

They join thousands of other families rendered homeless by floods since the long rains started last month.

The rains have also disrupted the planting season, with thousands of acres of maize, beans, potatoes and vegetables submerged in water and sections of roads washed away.

Several schools have also delayed opening for the second term after classrooms were destroyed. The Meteorological Services director Joseph Mukabana warned on Tuesday that the heavy rains will continue.

“There are possibilities of flash floods in the South Coast which is expected to record heavy to very heavy rainfall. Residents should exercise caution to avoid any calamities such as drowning. Those operating light boats are advised that there will be a risk of high waves,” he said.

In Magarini, Bate sub-location was marooned by water and several homes and livestock swept away in Dagmara and Chakama, leaving at least 2,000 people homeless. The families are camping at Bate, Garashi and Kaya primary schools.

Burst its banks

In Kirinyaga, a man drowned and 12 women escaped death narrowly when a swollen Thiba river burst its banks at Karira village, Mwea East division. The victim was working on his farm when he was swept away, while the survivors were harvesting French beans in an adjacent farm.

“If the villagers did not act swiftly we would all be dead,” one of the survivors said.

“We had harvested a lot of beans but they were carried away and nothing was salvaged. The owner must have registered great losses,” another said.

A bridge was destroyed and four schools in Imenti Central cut off after the main road was rendered impassable in Meru.

“It has been raining heavily over the weekend and the bridge was carried away today in the morning. Transport has been paralysed after the floods cut off the major road connecting Kinjo town and the four institutions,” said Kinjo North Sub-chief James Mutwiri.

In West Pokot, roads have been washed away disrupting distribution of relief supplies, while 750 families in Marigat are sleeping in the cold after their homes were flooded.

Business in Migori came to a standstill after floods marooned shops. The most affected was the local branch of Cooperative Bank where rising water levels forced workers and customers out of the banking hall.

But in flood-prone Budalangi, the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation (NWCPC) forecasts warm days for residents.

“So far we have managed to repair all major breaches and several partial breaches on both dykes,” said NWCPC official Lucy Mbuthia.

Bunyala DC Khalif Ali said measures had been put in place in case Nzoia river bursts its banks.

At the same time, two people drowned in Isilami river on Monday night in Kajiado North. Area district commissioner Mwangi Kahiro said they were in a group of four returning home from the market when the tragedy struck.

Mr Kahiro said the most affected areas in the district are Kamukuru and Entasopia near Lake Magadi.

A bridge on the Kiserian/Magadi road has also been swept away.

Meanwhile, mudslides have destroyed tea farms in Lari. Residents of Nyanduma location expressed fears their farms could be flooded after mudslides blocked river Komuthai, which feeds the larger River Athi. (READ: Four drown after heavy rains)

Reported by Sandra Chao, Barnabas Bii, Wycliff Kipsang, George Munene, Linet Wafula, Elisha Otieno and Ponciano Odongo