• The governor said two hippos had been spotted at Madunguni Secondary School in Malindi.
•In Madunguni, more than 1,000 families have been affected by the floods.
Image: ELIAS YAA
Kilifi government has expressed fears that human-wildlife conflict could escalate during the ongoing floods in Magarini and Malindi subcounties.
Governor Gideon Mung’aro said some hippos from River Galana have been swept by floods to areas near homesteads.
He said two hippos had been spotted at Madunguni Secondary School in Malindi. Hippo attacks are rampant during floods.
The school has been marooned by flood waters for over a week now.
“The hippos are in areas frequented by people. This makes it very dangerous for people to go about their daily activities because they do not know exactly where these animals are,” he said.
Mung'aro urged residents to avoid flooded areas as they pose a great risk not only to being swept away by the floods, but even being attacked by animals.
River Galana is infested with both hippos and crocodiles.
On Saturday, the governor toured Kakuyuni and Jilore wards in Malindi to assess the damages caused by the floods.
"I have visited the Madumadu area, Jilore ward along Sala Gate Road, assessing the damage to property and farms caused by floods. I have been able to meet some of the affected residents, warning them about the dangers of floods and also providing them with food to sustain them during this time when there are no crops in the fields," he said.
"My officers will also provide assistance such as mosquito nets and temporary shelter for those whose homes have been washed away by the waters.”
In Madunguni, more than 1,000 families have been affected by the floods.
"Once the situation stabilises, I will ensure that the residents in that area receive seeds and fertiliser to cultivate enough food on their farms,” he said.
Kenya National Highways Authority closed the Salagate Road at Madumadu.
According to the Kilifi Department of Special Programmes and Disaster Management, 11 schools in Malindi and Magarini have been marooned by water.
Out of the 11, three have been submerged in water.
The department further reported that flood waters from River Galana has affected Chakama, Sabaki and Madunguni.
“This has resulted in fields and crops being submerged, putting the agricultural livelihoods of the region at risk. Specifically, around 30 acres of crop land in Chakama have been impacted by the floods,” read a statement from the department.
The department dispatched lifeguards to the riverbanks to alert the community about the dangers of the flooding.
The department has also been distributing foodstuff to affected families.