Seven killed, property destroyed as heavy rains wreak havoc

A Kenya Red Cross image shows flooding in Nairobi's South C estate on April 29, 2016. Four people died and three others were injured when a perimeter wall collapsed on Lenana Road following a downpour in Nairobi. PHOTO | KENYA RED CROSS

What you need to know:

  • Kenya Red Cross reported on its Twitter page that flash floods destroyed 312 households in Kolakal Ward, Turkana Central.

  • In Wajir County, heavy rains cut off a portion of the road to Garissa.

Seven people have died following heavy rains in different parts of the country.

Three died in Nairobi after a perimeter wall on Lenana Road collapsed on them as they shielded from the rain.

In Turkana County, four people were swept away by floods following a heavy downpour.

In Nairobi, Kilimani police chief, Peter Katam said three other people were injured and were taken to hospital. The wall separates the Russian Embassy and Department of Defence.

Mr Katam said three other people were seriously injured and were taken to hospital.

He said the wall of the house between the Russian Embassy and Department of Defence came down during the heavy downpour that rocked the city yesterday.

Police said the dead were two men and a woman. Their identities are yet to be established.

Nairobi was hit by heavy rain and thunderstorms Friday.

Some major roads that included Denis Pritt, Lenana, Bunyala, Commercial Street and parts of Uhuru highway were heavily flooded.

Forest Road, Museum Hill, Pangani, Ojijo and Thika Road towards Thika Road Mall were flooded, with motorists being urged to avoid them.

On Thursday evening, a tree fell blocking the road near Stima plaza along Kolobot Road and a perimeter wall collapsed between MP Shah and Cancer Care.

HAVOC IN THE COUNTIES

The weatherman warned that storms and heavy rains are expected to continue in most parts of the country.

In Kalokol town, along the shores of Lake Turkana, the three elderly women are missing and presumed dead following the heavy rains.

A resident, Mr Willy Achia, told the Nation that Kolotum and Napasinyan dry river beds that channel water to Lake Turkana bust their banks and water overflowed to villages, fish markets and lower grounds of the town centre.

“The three old women were all living in temporary makeshift structures and were swept away by flashfloods,” he said.

In Lodwar town, one of the worst hit areas by the swelling of Kawalase River, were Longech, Natambusio, Ipelu, Lodopua, Ngirokipi, Soweto and Ngiitakito, with a bodaboda operator feared dead after trying to cross the river.

Meanwhile, herders in Marsabit County are counting huge  losses after their livestock were swept away following heavy downpour on Thursday.

The rain swept away more than 2,000 goats and 10 donkeys in Bejello village.

Elsewhere, 20 families  have had their household properties destroyed by floods in Manyatta Willy village, Marsabit Central.

Hundreds of residents from  Loikas, Mtaro and Chang’aa villages along Loikas stream in Samburu Central sub-county spent a night in the cold after a river broke its ranks and flooded their homesteads.

Reports by Stella Cherono, Sammy Lutta, Johnston Keti