- Mwaura said infrastructure has been hit hard with significant damage to railway lines and numerous roads now impassable.
- He said the government is mobilising nearly Sh4 billion to support recovery and relief efforts.
Image: GOKSP
The death toll from flood-related incidences has risen to 257, marking the loss of 19 more people over the past 24 hours.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said 14 adults and five children were reported dead over the last 24 hours.
He said the number of people affected by rains now stands at 293,661 while 54,837 households have been displaced.
Mwaura said another 188 people have been injured.
"We are equally saddened by the rising death toll and we send our sincere condolences to the affected families," Mwaura said.
He said infrastructure has been hit hard with significant damage to railway lines and numerous roads are now impassable.
Mwaura revealed that the government is meanwhile mobilising nearly Sh4 billion to support recovery and relief efforts and emphasised the government's commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of all affected Kenyans.
Mwaura said Health services have also been severely impacted, with 61 health facilities compromised across 11 counties.
As a result, he said 44 cholera cases have been reported so far in Tana River and Marsabit counties where Ministry of Health and Red Cross officials are conducting outreach programmes to stop the spread of the outbreak.
“In response to the crisis, the government is actively implementing waterborne disease control initiatives, including efforts to manage cholera outbreaks,” Mwaura said during a press conference at Nyayo House.
The spokesperson said ongoing repairs to damaged infrastructure are expected to continue through the end of May.
He said the government is working on critical roads section to restore safe travel where roads have been damaged by water overflows and cutoffs.
"In the meantime, we advise all road users to exercise caution while using the roads especially in Nairobi and urban areas," Mwaura said.
He said most road infrastructure damage occured in Nyanza, Western, Coast, Rift Valley and Eastern regions.
The government spokesperson also revealed that 198 dams have been identified as high risk after a national assessment.
He said varied evacuations are ongoing in the affected regions following a presidential directive issued on May 2, 2024.
"We nevertheless, advise all Kenyans to stay safe and to adhere to the weather forecast and evacuation notices that are being provided by the government and other agencies," Mwaura said.
On Wednesday, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki gazetted Friday, May 10, as a public holiday for purposes of countrywide tree-growing activities.
He said the day will also be observed in solidarity with all those who have been affected by the "cyclic floods and subsequent droughts in recent times".
"Recognising that the effects of climate change pose an existential threat to national security, public safety and the ecological sustainability of Kenya [and] acknowledging that tree growing is the singular long-term solution to the climate crisis and its devastating effects on life and livelihoods.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Public Holidays Act, I declare Friday, 10th May 2024, a Public Holiday for purposes of countrywide tree growing activities," Kindiki said in the gazette notice.
While speaking at State House, Nairobi, President William Ruto said the meteorological department said the ongoing rains will have subsided by next week.
Acting on this advice, the President announced that schools will reopen on Monday, April 13.
Schools were to reopen on April 29, but the Ministry of Education postponed due to the flooding crisis.
“All parents are now advised, based on the assessment of weather experts and the government, that it is safe for our children to go back to school,” Ruto said.
The President said the government will release funds to the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) for rehabilitation of schools that have been damaged by the floods.