- This comes in the wake of raging floods in the country, which have left a trail of destruction of lives and property.
- President William Ruto on Tuesday announced that the floods had claimed the lives of more than 170 people.
Image: FILE
Pope Francis has called for prayers for Kenya as the country battles heavy floods.
Pope Francis said he is praying for Kenyans who are suffering from the effects of the devastating floods, which have so far claimed about 200 lives.
"I'm spiritually close to the people of Kenya at this time when a severe flood has claimed many lives and destroyed vast areas. Let us pray together for all those who suffer the effects of this natural disaster," the Pope said in a statement on X.
This comes in the wake of raging floods in the country, which have left a trail of destruction of lives and property.
Residents of Kitengela were Wednesday morning marooned by floods after heavy rains pounded the city and its outskirts.
Many of them took to social media to call for help even as humanitarian organisations such as the Kenya Red Cross swung into action to evacuate families.
Several residents were unable to move out of their homes as early as 2am Wednesday because of the flooding situation.
The latest information from the Kenya Red Cross indicates that at leats 11 people, six of them in critical situations, had been evacuated.
President William Ruto on Tuesday announced that the floods had claimed the lives of more than 170 people.
Ruto and his Cabinet met that morning and laid down measures to mitigate the effects of the torrential rains which, besides claiming lives, have ravaged property and livelihoods of many Kenyans.
The Met Department said Kenya will continue receiving enhanced rains in the coming weeks, spelling more trouble for the already displaced families.
The Cabinet said relevant government agencies have completed the mapping out all the fragile ecosystems around the country, which pose a grave danger to public safety and health in the likely event of further precipitation.
"Cabinet directed that all members of the public residing within these risky areas are required to move out within 48 hours," a dispatch released after Tuesday meeting chaired by Ruto read in part.
The risky areas include villages near dams and other water reservoirs in public or private land, areas prone to mudslides and landslides and riparian lands along rivers and other water courses across the country.
Those residing around those areas were directed to move to safer grounds or to areas provided by government as alternative shelters.
"All members of the public affected by this directive will be notified by the end of day tomorrow, May 1," the Cabinet dispatch said.
A couple of roads in the country have also been closed due to the ongoing rains.
Wednesdday morning, the Kenya National Highways Authority announced the closure of a section of Thika Road between Kahawa Sukari and Kenyatta University as well as Embu-Meru Road.
Athi River-Namanga road was alao temporarily closed at Kimalat area before being reopened in the afternoon after flood waters subsided.
KeNHA also announced a 12-hour closure of Kedong Ranch - Suswa Road due to heavy debris and siltation stretching over a two-kilometre distance caused by persistent heavy rainfall.