One dead, three injured as heavy rains wreak havoc in Teso North

One person died and three others were injured following a heavy downpour in Teso North, Busia county.

The rains also left 20 families in the cold after their houses were brought down.

Also destroyed were electricity transmission lines, causing blackout in parts of Ang’urai North ward.

Kakurikit senior chief Julius Ekirapa said one victim, Pelesta Akumu died after her house's wall collapsed on her.

“We are still trying to establish the extent of the destruction,” Ekirapa told the Star on the phone.

“But for now, I can confirm one person died. There are three others who have been hospitalised and the destruction in people’s farms is massive.”

He said a woman and her two children, who have been hospitalised at Ang’urai Health Centre are in a stable condition.

Heavy winds, which accompanied the downpour, brought down trees, partially blocking the Osia-Kakurikit-Katotoi road links Kenya to Uganda.

Banana and avocado trees were destroyed in Katotoi, Kakurikit, Osia, Kaejo and Kasinge areas.

Residents whose houses were destroyed have appealed to the national and county governments to come to their rescue.

Teso North has always received normal rain with rare cases of floods.

President William Ruto on Sunday said the country will not experience El Nino rains as earlier predicted by the Kenya Meteorological Department.

He said the rains will be heavy rains but not destructive.

“You heard the news that we would experience El Nino that will destroy places and property. But who is God? You have heard they have said we will not have El Nino,” Ruto said during a church service in Dagoretti South on Sunday.

The Met department had warned that El Nino will hit the country from mid October to December.