Floods aftermath: Five more dead, toll rises to 165

Taita Taveta, Migori, and Meru counties are currently the worst affected by floods.

In Summary

• Lamu and Tana River counties are on high alert and are likely to join the list of worst-affected counties due to the floods which are expected to continue.

• Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura says 107,843 households comprising approximately 539,215 persons have so far been displaced by floods.

Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura gives an update on El Niño at the Emergency and Disaster Response Command Centre in Nairobi on December 2, 2023.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura gives an update on El Niño at the Emergency and Disaster Response Command Centre in Nairobi on December 2, 2023.
Image: HANDOUT

Deaths resulting from ongoing El Niño rains have risen to 165 after five more fatalities were reported on Wednesday.

The government says 107,843 households comprising approximately 539,215 persons have so far been displaced by floods.

"We send our sincere condolences and sympathies to grieving families and urge Kenyans to remain vigilant, comply with alerts and cooperate with our evacuation teams to avert more deaths and injuries," Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura said in a statement on Wednesday.

He said Taita Taveta, Migori, and Meru counties are the worst affected with Lamu and Tana River counties likely to join the list due to the floods which are expected to continue.

Mwaura said already, floods have already destroyed four roads, 832 acres of farms, 23 homesteads, three bridges, three schools and a chief's office in Lamu County.

In the Hindi ward, 1,770 acres of farmlands are submerged, another 2,100 acres of cropland have been destroyed in Bahari ward, 5,400 acres in Mkunumbi ward while 6,382 acres are marooned in Hongwe ward.

Still in Witu ward, another 26,731 acres of underproduction have been destroyed and 495 acres destroyed in Basuba ward.

"The government takes note of these destroyed farmlands and we shall use these data to effectively plan for the people of Kenya and Lamu, to be specific," Mwaura said.

Meanwhile, he said the government has relocated affected families to the Moa area of Lamu where the distribution of essential food items, and water treatment supplies has been delivered.

He said medical supplies including Cholera kits have also been delivered to Lamu, Kilifi and Mombasa counties where an outbreak of the disease has been reported.

"As we navigate this humanitarian crisis, our collective efforts remain focused on providing immediate relief and long-term support to those affected. We urge citizens to extend their solidarity and support to fellow Kenyans during this difficult period," Mwaura said.

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