Whitman visits flood victims in Mathare, pledges more aid

US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman on Thursday visited flood victims in Mathare and expressed continued US support for flood-affected families in the country.

The ambassador was accompanied by Kenya Red Cross secretary general Ahmed Idris.

“They toured Mradi, Mathare 4A, where residents were hardest hit by the recent flooding before visiting one of the evacuation camps we established, currently hosting 252 families,” the Kenya Red Cross said in a statement.

The humanitarian agency said the ambassador pledged new funding to enhance Kenya Red Cross’ support for communities adversely affected.

“We extend our appreciation to the American people through the USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, who have been providing invaluable support for temporary shelter and settlement needs and WASH NFIs, besides the normal emergency programming,” Kenya Red Cross said.

Torrential rains that have been pounding various parts of the country for weeks now have unleashed unprecedented floods that have wreaked havoc and left massive destruction and loss of lives in their wake.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the death toll from floods-related incidents stood at 257 with 188 others left with injuries.

Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said in a statement the rains have so far affected over 293,000 people and displaced 54,837 households.

"We remain committed to safeguarding the lives and properties of Kenyans and we are enhancing our interventions to mitigate the impact of the floods," Mwaura said.

He said so far, Rift Valley, Lake Victoria Basin, and Central and Eastern regions are the worst affected, the government said.

Mwaura said the rains have also negatively impacted the Agriculture sector where approximately 9,816 acres of cultivated lands have been destroyed.

He added that the health sector has not been spared either with 61 health facilities having been affected across 11 counties.

Forty-four cholera cases, he revealed, have been reported in Tana River and Marsabit counties.