Kenya Red Cross has revealed that 52 people have died so far due to the severe flooding triggered by heavy rains being experienced in the country.
The report also indicates that 24,415 people were displaced across various regions in the country.
The Rift Valley region witnessed 15 fatalities, with 3 others sustaining injuries, and 1,657 people being forced to vacate their homes.
In Nyanza, 6 lives have been lost, and 116 individuals displaced.
Western Kenya recorded 4 casualties, 4 injuries, and 154 displacements so far.
The Eastern region is also grappling with 10 fatalities, 2 injuries, 1 missing person, and a staggering 2,190 people displaced.
North Eastern region adding to the list faces the loss of 9 lives and 20,123 displaced individuals.
The Coast region has reported 3 fatalities and 174 displacements, while Central Kenya has 4 deaths and 1 displaced person.
In Nairobi, one life has been lost.
Altogether, 56,549 individuals in Kenya have been affected.
The Kenya Meteorological Department forewarned that the rains are expected to persist until January 2024, heightening the risk of further devastation.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) has also taken proactive steps to safeguard motorists plying the Mombasa Road route from potential flooding incidents.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, KenHA officials confirmed that the agency has begun the construction of drainage systems in the areas where roads have experienced recurrent flooding issues.
The officials stated that the latest initiative aligns with the agency’s commitment to ensure the safety of Kenyan motorists, particularly in anticipation of the El Nino rains expected to go on until January according to the weatherman.
According to the Kenya Meteorological Department, certain regions of the country will experience heavy rains from October to December.
According to officials, the road section between Westlands and Ole Sereni was identified as the most vulnerable, particularly during the long rains.
“We expect that when the El Nino comes, we will be done with major drains that had raised concerns,” he stated.
The officials revealed that the contractor has been directed to expand the drainages along Mombasa Road, especially around Imara Daima.
The expanded drainages will effectively accommodate substantial water volumes from nearby roads, including the expressway, thereby minimising rainy-season accidents.
“We are doing drainages of 4 metres wide, depth of 3.5 metres, and the length of 3.5 kilometres,” another official stated.
Reports of El Nino have prompted concerns among Kenyan citizens, including East African Legislative Assembly(EALA) MP Winnie Odinga, who has questioned the government’s preparedness in dealing with the issue.
Odinga specifically inquired about measures to safeguard farmers’ harvests and evacuation plans for residents in landslide-prone areas, as well as other flood mitigation strategies.
In response, the County Government of Nairobi outlined a set of measures on Sunday to address the impacts of El Nino.
“In response to this looming threat, Nairobi City County has devised a comprehensive disaster management plan to address the anticipated impacts and support the citizens in responding effectively to the crisis. Collaboration between government agencies, local communities, and relevant stakeholders will be crucial in ensuring a successful disaster management plan,” read part of the statement released.
