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Trouble started when the dam located over 20 km away burst its bank on Monday morning, spilling water to neighbouring villages.
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According to a victim, William Rokai, they were woken up by a loud and vibrating sound before his house was flooded in minutes.
Image: HANDOUT
The death toll from the Mai Mahiu dam tragedy is expected to surpass 50 as the search mission was expanded to neighbouring villages.
Hours after the dam in Old Kijabe burst its banks on Monday morning sweeping everything on its way, 45 bodies including 17 minors were recovered around the scene.
Naivasha OCPD Stephen Kirui said that of the 45 bodies recovered from different locations, 17 were minors.
He said that the numbers could rise by the day as the search operation continued, adding that the fate of the passengers in the ill-fated Easy Coach bus was unknown.
The police boss added that during the incident, several cars with occupants were swept by the floods with the bodies and the wrecks yet to be recovered.
“The gushing waters flooded sections of the Naivasha-Mai Mahiu and Narok-Mai Mahiu road where some of the bodies were recovered,” said the police boss.
Trouble started when the dam located over 20 km away burst its bank on Monday morning, spilling water to neighbouring villages.
According to a victim, William Rokai, they were woken up by a loud and vibrating sound before his house was flooded in minutes.
Rokai, accompanied by his two brothers, managed to rescue his two children from the roof before escaping to higher grounds as the water swept anything on its way.
He said that the incident caught them by surprise as they were asleep, adding that he only managed to rescue his family while everything including the house was swept downstream.
“In minutes our house was flooded and through the grace of the road we managed to escape through the roof and we are still in shock,” said the casual labourer.
Another victim David Chege termed the tragedy as the worst to ever hit the area noting that the town had not recorded heavy rains compared to other areas.
He said that tens of families did not know the fate of their kin with tens missing and scores of others admitted in different hospitals in Naivasha.
“This is worse than the Solai dam incident as the death toll could pass 70 as many families cannot trace their relatives who were washed by the floods,” he said.
Speaking at the scene, Naivasha MP Jane Kihara termed the incident as a national disaster adding that they were trying to come to terms with deaths.
She said that what many people called homes was history as the floods had swept everything including the houses and personal effects.
“Tens of families have lost their relatives, scores of others are missing as others nurse their wounds in hospitals and this is the darkest day in our lives,” she said.
On his part, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen termed the incident as one of the darkest in the country’s history.
He said that the government would have no option but to forcefully relocate those who were living in waterways to address the rising death toll.
“We have lost so many people through the ongoing rains and it’s time to take decisive action by evicting all those living near flooded sections,” he said.
On her part, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika while condoling with the affected families said that the county had mobilized all its resources to deal with the disaster.
She said that they were working closely with their counterparts from Kiambu where the dam was situated to assist those affected.
“We have mobilized all the necessary personnel and equipment in addressing this disaster which is worse than the Solai dam incident where 48 people lost their lives,” she said.
Lands executive in Nakuru John Kihagi appealed to striking doctors to resume duty as this was a national disaster which had affected directly and indirectly tens of families.
“We are working with NYS and KENHA officers in addressing this major tragedy even as we call on those living near rivers to relocate to higher grounds,” he said.
Public Health CO Joyce Ncece noted that rescue operations during the incident were hampered by darkness.
“We are working with private hospitals and well-wishers and we are calling for humanitarian support from the national government,” she said.