• Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said the enhanced rains are expected to continue this week ending December 11 in various parts of the country.
• He said in case of any emergency, the public should reach the National Disaster Operations Centre via toll-free number 0800-721-571.
Image: PCS
The number of Kenyans who have lost their lives as a result of the prevailing El Niño rains has risen to 154 after 12 more people lost their lives in the last 48 hours.
Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura said in an update Monday evening two other lives have been lost as a result of a cholera outbreak in Lamu County where 103 cases of the disease have been reported.
"The government is still distributing food and non-food items to 19 of the most affected counties. Roads repairs are ongoing in affected areas depending on rainfall water levels and accessibility," he said.
Mwaura revealed that the government is in the process of distributing 960,555 treated mosquito nets in 21 counties to help combat Malaria.
He added that the Ministry of Agriculture is also in the process of distributing 450,000 doses of blue tongue vaccines and 1.4 million doses of Rift Valley fever vaccines for cattle to boost immunization in the affected areas.
Mwaura said the enhanced rains are expected to continue this week ending December 11 in various parts of the country.
They include Central Highlands, Western Kenya, the Lake Victoria Basin, South Eastern lowlands and the Coast.
He said isolated storms are expected to accompany the heavy rains in those regions which may lead to further flooding.
"We continue to emphasise the importance of staying vigilant and following safety guidelines. We urge wananchi to stay updated on weather alerts and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety, particularly in flood-prone regions," he said.
He said in case of any emergency, the public should reach the National Disaster Operations Centre via toll-free number 0800-721-571.
This was the fifth update on the government’s El Niño emergency relief since the onset of the enhanced rains.
Mwaura said several roads remain impassable, particularly in the northeastern region and parts of the Coastal strip which continue to bear the brunt of the enhanced rains.
These include Moyale-Dabel-Buna-Eldas-Griftu-Wajir road which is partially impassable at Dela-Korrondile and Buna sections.
Mwaura said machinery has been dispatched for repair works and assist vehicles stuck in mud and diversions have been made to create alternative routes on the Madogo-Cherendende-Bilbil-Bura-Hola road where about 2km of the tarmac is submerged.
He said the Garsen-Witu-Lamu road is also impassable as a 3km stretch between Gamba and Lango la Simba has been overtopped by flood waters but Kenya Coast Guards are ferrying passengers between the two points.
Also affected is the Nuno-Modogashe-Wajir-Garissa road which is submerged at SCAN SCA marooning drivers in the area.
The government spokesman said mobility has been restored on the Thika-Mwingi-Garissa highway whose sections had been washed out as they await full reinstatement once the floods subside.
"The government through the Kenya Highways Authority and Kenya Urban Roads Authority will commence immediate processing and gravelling of the roads once the floods subside," Mwaura said.
Meanwhile, the government is continuing with food and nonfood supplies airlift to the affected areas in northeastern counties, Makueni, Samburu, Tharaka Nithi, Kilifi, Busia, Homa Bay, Migori, Kwale, Kitui and Turkana counties.
At least 43 cattle, 744 sheep, 1706 goats, 382 poultry and one camel have succumbed to extreme cold weather in the counties of Isiolo, Kilifi, Mandera, Marsabit, Taita Taveta, Tana River, Homa Bay and Lamu, Maura said.