-
Motorists were forced to divert to Devki - Namanga Road route of the busy Nairobi - Mombasa highway.
-
Police helicopters were deployed to offer aerial surveillance during the operations conducted areas mostly along River Athi.
Police have intensified security surveillance as the multiagency team continues with rescue missions in Machakos County. https://rb.gy/qsouml
Image: MACHAKOS/GPS
Police have intensified security surveillance as the multiagency team continues with rescue missions in Machakos County.
On Wednesday, the team led by Machakos County Commissioner Josephine Ouko and Governor Wavinya Ndeti led the operations to evacuate tens of residents trapped in various apartments and areas in the Mavoko division within the Athi River subcounty.
Police helicopters were deployed to offer aerial surveillance during the operations conducted areas mostly along River Athi.
The operations were instigated following an alarm raised by the trapped residents of Gracelands Apartments within Athi River town.
County security agencies responded to the distress calls after the victims said that their residences has been flooded and houses marooned in flood waters.
Among the victims were Florence Ogalo and her family. She reported losing all her property to the floods.
"I'm safe now, I have just been rescued like 30 minutes ago and looking for a place to put up. I lost everything including my car," Ogalo told the Star by phone on Wednesday.
Ogalo said Gracelands Apartments where they live is next to River Athi which had busted its banks leading to the flooding situation.
She acknowledged that the multiagency that rescued her together with her family members alongside neighbours included the Kenya Red Cross Society, Machakos County Government and officers from the Kenya National Police Service.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that there could be people who had been swept away by the floods within the Athi River.
Other areas where residents got stuck due to flooding are Safcom Sacco houses located at Stage 39 Bridge next to Crystal Rivers Mall, Kwa Mang'eli, Kyelenzi, 39 Bridge area, Kwa Nzomo, Kwa Mang'eli, Katani, Kamulu, Joska, Syokimau, among others.
Early Wednesday, Nairobi - Namanga Road was flooded rendering it impassible.
Motorists were forced to divert to the Devki - Namanga Road route of the busy Nairobi - Mombasa highway.
Affected residents have urged both the Machakos County and National governments to help them access necessities like food, clothing, bedding and shelter.
The flooding situation is worsening as swollen rivers break their banks.
Other than vehicles and houses being marooned and swept away, farmers along River Athi are also counting losses amounting to millions after their crops were swept away by the floods.