Seven killed as heavy rains wreak havoc countrywide

Seven people in different parts of the country died by drowning or being swept away by floods on Thursday night and Friday morning, following heavy rains.

At Mugae area on the Ruiri-Isiolo Road in Meru County, a person died while another was rescued by the Red Cross emergency response team when he tried to cross a flooded section of the road on a motorbike, Kenya Red Cross Society Central region coordinator Gitonga Mugambi said.

Motorists and other road users were stranded for hours while others used alternative routes.

HEADING HOME

Other areas that experienced flooding in Meru include Kagaene on on the Meru-Mikinduri Road, Lailuba on Muriri-Isiolo Road and Muthara market.

Mr Mugambi said there was need for administrators to enforce bans on quarrying until the rains subsided to avert drowning and caving in of the pits.

Two children drowned in separate incidents in Taita-Taveta County.

A five-year-old boy was swept away by floods as he tried to cross River Mwatate. The Standard Two pupil at Maili Kumi Primary School was heading home in the evening when he died.

DISUSED QUARRY

Mwatate OCPD Francis Mwangi said the body of the boy was found in a ditch at Chakaleri. It was taken to Moi County Referral Hospital’s mortuary.

Elsewhere, an eight-year-old boy drowned while swimming in a ditch at Lesesia.

County Police Commander Fred Ochieng said the boy's father reported that his son was grazing goats when he drowned in a disused quarry on Friday morning.

The body was taken to Taveta sub-county Hospital morturary.

TRAFFIC JAM

“Residents should monitor the movement of their children to avoid these incidents,” Mr Ochieng said.

In Kwale County, Vanga chief Abdallah Kama said River Umba broke its banks. No damage was reported and children were going to school.

In Mombasa, major roads were rendered impassable by the downpour.

Changamwe residents spent hours in a traffic jam at Kibarani on the Mombasa-Nairobi road.

Flood waters reached door steps of houses and other buildings in parts of Kisauni, Bamburi and Nyali.

FOUR KILLED

Buses which were stuck on the Mombasa-Nairobi road began arriving in the coastal city on Friday morning, with passengers accusing the government of not preparing for the rains which were forecast last week.

In Machakos, County Commissioner Maltilda Sakwa said four people were swept away by floods while crossing a bridge at the Joska-Kamulu on Kangundo-Nairobi road.

DISPLACED

The bodies were found metres away from River Athi on Friday morning.

More than 30 residents were displaced and 20 houses swept away.

Ms Sakwa said crops were also destroyed.

At Lukenya Academy, learners spent the night in school after water rose above the Stoni-Athi bridge, cutting off transport from the institution.

MARKETS

School director Mutheu Kasanga said 120 day scholars had to be accommodated in the dormitories.

In Nakuru town, more than 500 families in slums risk contracting diseases as a result of incomplete and open sewer lines.

The affected areas include Kaptembwa, Pondamali, Kwa Rhonda and Kivumbini.

In Nyandarua, the rains destroyed roads and flooded major markets and residential areas.

In Narok, residents are living in fear of floods. Deputy County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi asked them to be cautious.

City Hall and Nairobi Metropolitan Development have set aside Sh194 million to address flooding.