•The death toll now stands at more than 90 people since the start of the April rains, but there is fear the numbers could be more.
•This is due to the fact that there are many bodies that are still missing after being swept by the raging waters.
Image: FILE
At least 11 more bodies have been collected from separate scenes in the country following heavy rains.
Police have warned that the death toll is set to increase as the rains intensify and flood many places.
The 11 were collected on Saturday evening, police said.
The death toll now stands at more than 90 people since the start of the April rains, but there is fear the numbers could be more.
This is due to the fact that there are many bodies that are still missing after being swept by the raging waters.
Police said following heavy rains experienced on Saturday, the figures could rise with many more people getting displaced.
Nairobi was badly affected by the Saturday rains.
According to a statement by the Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, 32 people have been confirmed dead in Nairobi and 16,909 households having been displaced.
"The Kenya Coast Guard, National Police Service nd Kenya Defense Forces are collaborating to step up search and rescue services," Mwaura said.
The fresh bodies were collected in Ilasit, Kajiado County where the body of a woman was found on the banks of river Mararoi.
Another body of a man who had been swept by water at River Kimutwa and in Kathonzweni area was found in Kalama, Machakos County.
In Makueni, the body of a man was found on the river banks of River Athi.
Police said they recovered the lorry that was swept by raging water at Sultan Hamud on Friday and nine bodies retreaved.
They include six women and three men. More people including the lorry driver are missing.
In Kitui’s Kathukini a body of a man was found floating along Nzeu River in Kyangunga Sub-Location within Kakusi village.
The body had visible physical injuries believed to have been as a result of collision with the stones in the river.
In Ruaraka area, Nairobi, the body of one Francis Watuku, 30 who was reported missing on April 23 was found in water in Laundry area in Babadogo.
In Embu’s Gachoka area, the body of a girl aged 10 was retrieved from a water pan which is about 100 meters away from their home.
In Laikipia’s Rumuruti area, the body of a 12 year old boy was found in a dam where he was swimming after suspected drowning.
In Narok, a girl aged 18 drowned in Enkare Narok River while fetching firewood, police said.
In Bomet’s Konoin area, a man drowned in Itare river in Cheptingting Sub-Location, Koiwa Location.
In Nairobi’s Soweto area, the body of Moses Chege, 40 was recovered from a flooded road in Gorofa Saba Bridge.
The bodies were moved to the mortuaries pending identification and autopsy, police said.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome said they have dispatched more personnel to various roads to help in directing motorists and other users.
He urged motorists and other road users to be cautious ahead of the reopening of the schools this week.
Some schools are affected by the flooding occasioned by the rains so far.
Koome said the ongoing heavy rains and floods being experienced in the country have not only claimed lives, but also rendered some roads and rivers impassable.
Similarly, he said, it is expected that road traffic, both human and vehicular, will be very heavy next week.
“In the best interest of children that will be travelling back to school, and for thesafety of the general public, the National Police Service would like to caution allmotorists and boda boda riders to be extra vigilant on the roads, and strictly comply with traffic regulations and rules,” he said.
Koome said while police and other multi agency teams have been deployed along the major highways, he called upon all motorists to cooperate with the law enforcement officers to improve our service delivery.
The government has scaled up measures to mitigate disaster caused by the ongoing enhanced rains and floods, even as the meteorological department warned that heavy rainfall will continue.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Friday said the government has made several interventions such as financial allocation of Sh4 billion for immediate response to the rain's havoc.
He added that 131,179 people have been affected by the rains and that contingency plans have been developed to enhance the coordination of the emergency response.
He further asked Kenyans to stop daring nature and be responsible during the rainy season.
“We appeal to Kenyans to be responsible for their own lives and safety. Do not dare nature. In some instances, we have seen people being adventurous and daring to cross swollen rivers. We urge Kenyans to exercise caution and be responsible for their own lives. They must know they carry the aspirations of their families,” he said.
To those living in areas prone to landslides and near Kiambere Water Dam, Gachagua asked them to relocate to safer grounds.
Other interventions, he said, include resettlement of displaced families, restoration of bridges washed away by the raging waters, repair of critical infrastructure, activation of the National Disaster Response Centre and distribution of food, non-food and pharmaceutical items to the affected families.
“We are in discussions with the National Treasury and we are trying to put up Sh4 billion as an emergency fund. The National Youth Service will be facilitated to resettle the displaced families, unblock drains and waterways and handle the spilling dams. The National Disaster Response Centre will be 24 hours open to monitor the situation in the country,” Gachagua said.
Speaking during a meeting on review of emergency response actions relating to the ongoing floods situation in Kenya at his official residence in Karen, Gachagua also asked County Governments to realign their budgets to mitigate the effects of ongoing rains.