Five swept away by floods

Five people died in Rongai and Koibatek districts as floods wreaked havoc in the Rift Valley on Friday night. Among the dead were a young mother and her two children aged eight and six years after their home was destroyed by floods when River Rongai burst its banks.

Caroline Bogir reportedly died clinging to her two children, Chepchirchir and Cherotich, but one other child, Judy Chepkemoi, escaped by climbing up a tree. The fourth victim, an elderly woman, drowned while a man died at Kiptoim, 20 kilometres from Eldama Ravine town.

Rongai District Commissioner Geoffrey Wafula, said the floods had left about 300 people homeless. Villagers said the rains, which started at around 8 p.m., lasted about three hours.

Most of those affected are landless families living along River Rongai, which is adjacent to Athinai Sisal Estate. Mr Wafula said the government would provide food to the victims. Rongai MP Luka Kigen urged them to move to higher, safer grounds.

In the neighbouring Mogotio district, several people were left homeless in Kures and Kapcheluguny areas after their homes were submerged in water. Many homes along the Nakuru-Marigat road between Mogotio and Emining were also submerged and transport disrupted.

The area residents lost their livestock in the floods. When the Sunday Nation visited the area, some villagers were ferrying away carcasses of their livestock. One villager, Kabon Chebon, said her two cows, 12 goats and 10 chicken had perished.

At the nearby Noiwet trading centre, shopkeepers were on Saturday counting their losses. In Nakuru town, some residents abandoned their homes for fear of flooding.

Officials from the Kenya Red Cross Society on Saturday conducted an assessment of the situation to ascertain the magnitude of the flooding especially in the lowland areas of Kaptembwo, Mwariki, Race Track and Kwa Rhoda. The road linking Kaptembwo and Barut was destroyed.

And in Migori town, several semi-permanent houses collapsed as the rains continued. At least 50 families were displaced and several bridges washed away. Oruba, Pand-Pieri and Nyasare estates were the worst hit.

Water levels in rivers Migori and Kuja continued to rise on Saturday, causing fears of flooding in the plains of Nyatike district. Transport services were paralysed for several hours after sections of roads were washed away.

– Additional reporting by Elisha Otieno