Flood warning as Met predicts heavy rains around Lake Victoria

People living around Lake Victoria should prepare for possible flooding after the Meteorological department predicted more rains in the region this week.

The Met department said areas around Lake Victoria, where some residents have already been displaced, will continue to experience heavy afternoon rains. 

This region covers Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Trans Nzoia, Baringo, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Nandi, Nakuru, Narok, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia and West Pokot counties.

The morning rains have largely stopped but will resume in some places on Saturday. 

Dr David Gikungu, head of the meteorological department, said the rains will continue this week but reduce on Sunday.

“Rainfall is expected to continue over most parts of the country. Heavy rainfall events are likely to occur in some parts of the highlands east and west of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the South-eastern lowlands, the Coast, north-western and north-eastern Kenya,” Gikungu said.

The forecast also shows no respite for Northeastern -Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa and Isiolo counties - where many places are also flooded

On Tuesday, authorities in Nyanza reported more than 300 residents of Kobura ward within the Nyando sub-county were forced to move from their homes following heavy downpour.

Residents were concerned over the risk of contracting waterborne diseases after some of their belongings were destroyed in the water.

Area MCA Billy Odhiambo expressed displeasure in the manner in which the matter was being handled by the county disaster management team.

Odhiambo claimed they had on several occasions raised the plight of the Kobura residents and were promised that action would be taken.

The MCA said it was unfortunate that the people continue to suffer yet there is money allocated to respond to disaster and emergency situations.

"A supplementary budget was passed with Sh30 million going for disaster management and Sh50 million for emergency, why are the funds not being released to help in this situation?" he questioned.

Odhiambo noted that the 300 people affected within his ward need urgent intervention.

"The roads are impassable but we have been told that a tractor will come tomorrow let us wait and see," he said.

Central Kenya and Mt Kenya are other areas highlighted in the forecast that will continue to have cloudy mornings and evening rains on Thursday and Friday, with morning rains resuming on Saturday.

On Tuesday, 51 passengers were rescued after their bus was submerged in flood waters in Tana River.

The passengers were aboard a bus from Garissa to Nairobi when their vehicle was marooned by raging waters in Arer in Tana River.

Kenya Red Cross (KRC) sent two boats to rescue the passengers with priority being given to vulnerable groups such as children.

"All passengers aboard the bus have now been rescued, with priority initially given to women, children and those who were sick," KRC said on Tuesday.

Tana River County Police Commander Ali Ndiema said the bus was travelling from Garissa to Nairobi on Monday at 11:30 pm.

Ndiema said the bus driver reportedly dared to cross the flooded section against the advice of other drivers and passengers only for it to be submerged by the heavy waters 50 metres off the road.

The Kenya National Highways Authority issued a warning to commuters along the Garissa-Nairobi highway (A3) due to flooding in the Mororo area between Madogo and the Tana River Bridge.

According to KeNHA, the flooding has affected one lane of the road, posing a high safety risk to road users.

"This poses a high safety risk to the road users. This road, therefore, shall remain closed until the flood waters subside and the damaged section is reinstated," KeNHA said.

Other roads currently being monitored by KeNHA include the Garissa-Mombasa highway at Bilbil and Charidende in Tana River County, which were washed away by the El Niño floods.