President William Ruto has expressed his deep condolences to families that have lost loved ones due to the ongoing flooding incidents across the country that have been reported due to intense rainfall.
Ruto, who was away in Arusha, Tanzania, said he is pained by the loss of lives even as he assured that the government will scale up intervention to help those in distress.
“We condole with the families of the victims of the ongoing intense downpour and flooding in some parts of the country. We are pained by the loss of lives in Kwale, Mombasa, Samburu and, lately, Makueni County among other places,” he said in a brief statement on Friday.
“The Government will act to secure Kenyans,” the country boss added.
The Kenya Red Cross has reported seventy-one flood-related deaths with over 150,000 people displaced.
Some of the worst affected counties include Mombasa, Garissa, Tana River, Makueni, Marsabit, Kilifi, Kwale, Meru, Isiolo, Turkana, Samburu, Wajir, Homa Bay and Busia.
On Thursday night eight people were swept away by floods after the Muuoni River in Emali, Makueni County broke its banks.
The eight were attempting to cross the swollen river when they were swept away.
Kavuthu Chief Norman Musyoki said the eight were crossing from Kavuthu to Mutyambua when the tragedy happened.
Evans Peter, the coordinator for Kenya Red Cross in Makueni County, stated that a rescue team had been sent to the area.
Three bodies had been recovered as of Friday as the search activity continues.
In Isiolo, two family members died Thursday night following a heavy downpour at Attan village in Ngaremara ward.
Deputy county commissioner of Isiolo, Patrick Musango confirmed the deaths saying that so far three people have lost their lives following floods caused by the ongoing heavy rain in the area.
The administrator said several houses, businesses and the road infrastructure have been destroyed.
He said that the two victims of the floods were attempting to cross a swollen seasonal river that swept them away at Attan village in Isiolo North constituency.
The DCC revealed that the two bodies of Francis Lingile, Alice Achiru,22 and 29 years respectively were discovered at Ngaremara Bridge following a search by the area residents and the relatives who reported the matter to the local chief and later the police came for the bodies.
The administrator directed chiefs and their assistants to ensure the local people do not risk their lives by moving them and their livestock to raised grounds.
Residents of the affected areas are advised to avoid crossing rivers that are flooded and broke their banks since that is risky.