Mwaura: State to pay hospital bills for Mai Mahiu landslide victims

Mwaura said that 45 lives have been lost and 73 other Kenyans injured.

In Summary
  • He called on Kenyans to remain vigilant, observe flood alerts and cooperate with the rescue and evacuation teams.

  • Mwaura further commended Kenyans for hosting fellow citizens in their homes and residences.

Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura at Coast regional headquarters in Mombasa on Monday / JOHN CHESOLI
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura at Coast regional headquarters in Mombasa on Monday / JOHN CHESOLI

The government will pay for all hospital bills for the victims of the Mai Mahiu landslide, government spokesman Isaac Mwaura has said.

Mwaura said that 45 lives have been lost and 73 other Kenyans injured and are being treated at different health facilities in the area.

"The government will cater for all their hospital bills and wishes them a quick recovery. The government appeals to doctors and other health workers to resume their services to assist their fellow citizens and not to prioritize financial interests during this emergency," he said.

He called on Kenyans to remain vigilant, observe flood alerts and cooperate with the rescue and evacuation teams.

Mwaura further commended Kenyans for hosting fellow citizens in their homes and residences.

"This is the true hallmark of the Kenyan spirit of nationhood and uzalendo," he added.

Mwaura said that 66 fatalities have been reported in the last 24 hours, (4 adults in Tana River, three adults in the Eastern region, four adults and three children in Central Region.

He added that 47 adults and one child in Nakuru, Narok and West Pokot counties and two adults and two children in Homa Bay County have been reported in the last 24 hours.

According to him, the cumulative number of people who have died due to floods since the onset of the ongoing March-April-May (MAM) long rains is 169.

In the Rift Valley region,70 people have been reported as missing, bringing the national tally to 91.

He added that 10 people in the Eastern region, four in Nairobi County and one in the Coast region have been reported missing bringing the tally to 21 persons.

"The floods have also led to the displacement of 30,214 households comprising of approximately 190,942 persons. Nairobi County is the worst hit with 147,031 people displaced accounting for over 77 per cent of those displaced countrywide," he said.

"The government empathises with those affected and has subsequently set up 2 more displacement camps to provide alternative temporary accommodation. This brings the total number of displacement camps to 52 nationally."

Mwaura said that Kenya Met's weather forecast for the period between April 30 to May 6, 2024, indicates that rainfall is expected to continue over several parts of the country.

He said that heavy rains are likely to occur in some parts of the highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the South-Eastern lowlands, North-Western and North-Eastern Kenya.

Mwaura called on Kenyans to avoid crossing fast-moving waters and to stay alert for potential flash floods despite the areas not experiencing rainfall.

He added that heavy rainfall may also reduce visibility, prompting road users, aviators, and boat operators to exercise caution.

Mwaura said that Kenyans should contact the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) through the toll-free line: 0800721571 and 1508 for Nairobi County Government Disaster Operations Centre incase of emergency assistance.


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