- Matungulu deputy county commissioner David Tegutwa said the rescue mission was conducted by a multiagency team led by KDF special forces.
- Others were National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), the National Police Service and the Machakos County Government.
Eight people who were separately trapped in marooned areas in Machakos County have been successfully rescued at last. https://rb.gy/jik2me
Eight people who were separately trapped in marooned areas in Machakos County have been successfully rescued at last.
They included the seven who had been trapped at Kabaa Island in the Mwala subcounty since Wednesday and a man in Donyo Sabuk, Matungulu subcounty.
The victims were rescued in an operation led by Kenya Defence Forces soldiers on Friday.
The seven were rescued before the same chopper proceeded to Donyo Sabuk where it rescued Anthony Muthiani at Kitanga sublocation in Matungulu subcounty.
Mwala deputy county commissioner David Tegutwa said the rescue mission was conducted by a multiagency team led by KDF special forces.
Others were National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), the National Police Service and the Machakos County Government.
Governor Wavinya Ndeti and her deputy Francis Mwangangi witnessed the rescue operations that started at around 10.45 am to 12.20 pm.
Tegutwa said the chopper used to rescue the stranded residents was privately hired.
"The rescue operations have successfully been concluded; both in Kabaa Island and Donyo Sabuk. Seven rescued in Kabaa (Mwala subcounty side) and one in Donyo Sabuk (Matungulu subcounty side," Tegutwa told the Star on Friday.
He said those rescued in Mwala were relocated to the Kabaa area and integrated with families and friends.
Tegutwa said one of the families had moved to a rental house in Kabaa market.
The seven rescued from the Island including a pregnant mother had all been trapped in their homes after River Athi broke its banks following the ongoing heavy downpour on Wednesday.
The rescue team from the national government’s specialized unit swung into action after efforts to use boats for rescue bore no fruits.
The seven are residents of the 48-acre -Kabaa island in River Athi in the Mwala sub-county.
Multiple sources earlier told the Star that boat rescue attempts had been unsuccessful.
Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi and the area security team went to the river banks early Friday to assess the situation as they awaited the specialized rescue team from Nairobi.
They were later joined by Governor Wavinya Ndeti.
“A boat rescue has been impossible. We are anticipating an airlift or specialized KDF team that will be assessing the ground today. We are hopeful for a breakthrough today,” Mwala deputy county commissioner David Tegutwa earlier told the Star on Friday.
Mwala sub-county police commander Nancy Jerobon earlier said the road from Kabaa to the island was impassable.
Jerobon said the seven people had been stranded since Wednesday evening.
They include; Raphael Mutavi (70), Peter Mutua (28), Paul Mweu, Mary Mutheu (38-year-old expectant mother), Peter Muthini (62), Paul Mulatia (49) and Kithoka Ngii, 55.
The police boss said the river had burst its banks by about 60 metres.
"The water levels are receding from last evening. But, the situation is still dire. No incident has been reported since the beginning of the floods," Jerobon said.
She said the victims had been called on phones, counselled and advised to stay calm pending rescue.