Three more die as rains wreak havoc

Three more people died at the weekend while thousands were displaced as heavy rains continued to pound parts of the country.

In Busia, two people drowned and two others escaped death narrowly after a boat capsized in River Sio.

According to a witness, the boat passengers were crossing the swollen river when it overturned midstream.

“My daughter drowned as she tried to swim. I am appealing to the county government to help me retrieve her body,” said Ms Redempta Atieno, at the scene.

A three-year-old girl was among the survivors rescued during the Saturday afternoon incident.

A resident Charles Juma appealed to the county government to build a bridge linking Matayos and Nambale.

In Narok, another person was killed by a mudslide on Sunday.

The afternoon incident occurred 300 metres from where a family of five died after their house was buried in a mudslide as they slept at Enenkishomi in Narok South Sub-County.

The 16-year- old girl was sheltering in a house when mudslides occurred during an afternoon downpour.

Oleshapani Chief John Seur said two other teenage girls who were with the victim were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The body was taken to Narok County Referral Hospital mortuary.

The chief said despite warnings, locals are hesitant to move to higher ground.

The number of people killed in Narok has risen to 10 this month. Governor Samuel Tunai gave the affected families Sh300,000 each.

THOUSANDS DISPLACED
Speaking to residents at Enenkishomi Primary School, he said the county government would foot funeral expenses.

Two weeks ago, three primary school children were killed by floods in Talek, and more than 400 sheep and goats they were herding were also swept away.

In Mulot, Bomet County, more than 200 cows were swept away after it rained for more than two hours Sunday.

In Tana River County, 4,090 people have been displaced by heavy rains.

In an interview with the Daily Nation on Sunday, Kenya Red Cross Society county manager Jerald Bombe said Mbalambala in Bura Sub-County is the hardest hit.

He said 1,200 families have been left homeless after River Tana burst its banks.

Mr Bombe said at least 300 families in Gubani, Bububu and Kilindini villages in Galole Constituency have had to move to higher ground.

The official said a few families marooned at Gubani village have defied calls to move.

“The say they are taking care of their mangoes,” he said.

SWEPT BY FLOOD

Mr Bombe said at least 2,000 have moved out of their villages in Tana Delta Sub-County.

In Laikipia, a nurse and a driver are feared dead after floods swept away a county ambulance on Friday night.

The ambulance was returning to Dol Dol Hospital in Laikipia North after taking a pregnant mother to Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital when it was washed away by the swollen, seasonal River Loisukut.

The wreckage of the ambulance was found 300m from the crossing point.

“We found some clothing downstream and no bodies,” said Red Cross official Anthony Kuria.

Colleagues said the two made frantic calls for help. “She called me around 11pm and told me to seek help from the police,” said a nurse, Ms Sarah Gakii, at the scene.