Another body recovered as floods swamp Coast

Another body was on Tuesday recovered in Changamwe, Mombasa as floods continued to wreck havoc at the Coast.

The body was found in mud at Kalahari slums, the same place another body was found on Sunday as heavy rains continued pounding the area.

Hundreds of people have also been displaced in Mombasa and Kwale counties due to the raging floods.

Angry slum dwellers dumped the body outside a police station after the officers failed to collect it even after they had reported.

Those who have been displaced are now living in make-shift camps.

Yesterday, Mombasa County government officials had a rough time attending to displaced families and relocating them to camps.

Lands executive Francis Thoya led the officials in draining flood water from schools and houses.

In Likoni Constituency, 240 displaced families received beddings and foodstuff valued at about Sh1 million from the county government.

They are part of the 750 families that have been displaced after six villages were flooded.

Agriculture executive Anthony Njarambi who presided over the distribution of the items at Inuka in Likoni said the two died after their houses collapsed due to heavy rains.

“Affected families in Likoni have been sleeping in the cold for four days but have now started returning them to their houses after specialized equipment sucked water and mud,” said Mr Njaramba.

The Meteorological Department said the rains would subside in three days but intensify again. Assistant Director of Public Weather Service Ayub Shaka said weather patterns indicated the rains would reduce from tomorrow but pick up again next Wednesday.

“The intensity will not be as severe as it has been in the last week. It will not rain with similar force,” said Mr Shaka.

“The disaster management team is already helping affected families move to safer areas.”

Affected villages in Likoni are Dimbwini, Jamvi la Wageni, Bofu, Migombani, Kiwerera and Mtsalafuni.

In Kwale, governor Salim Mvurya said close to 400 families risked being swept away by floods.

“Houses will be washed away if the heavy rains continue,” said Mr Mvurya.

Areas that face the highest risk in Kwale include Msambweni, Ukunda, Lunga-Lunga and Vumbu village.

The governor spoke at Vumbu village where donated food to displaced families. “We know they are suffering. We have brought them food and mosquito nets,” he added.

Earlier Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa called for demolition of houses built on drainage systems.

“This will help us address the flooding menace while checking a possible cholera outbreak,” Mr Marwa said.

Reports by Daniel Nyassy, Rebecca Okwany, Ahmed Mohamed, Laban Robert and Samuel Kalume