Families displaced as Ewaso Nyiro River bursts its banks

Governor Joseph Lenku said the floods in Entasopia destroyed a local hospital and displaced several families on Sunday night.

In Summary
  • He said Entasopia and Shompole are the most hit along with Nkaimurunya in Ngong and Kyang’ombe in Kitengela town.
  • In Nkaimurunya and Kyang’ombe, Lenku said at least 1,450 have been affected by the floods.
Ewaso Nyiro River bursts its banks in Kajiado West on April 29, 2024.
Ewaso Nyiro River bursts its banks in Kajiado West on April 29, 2024.
Image: SCREENGRAB

Several families have been displaced in Entasopia, Shompole, and Kamukuru in the ongoing rains in the Kajiado West subcounty after River Ewaso Nyiro burst its banks on Sunday night.

An elder in Entasopia, Joseph Sirai, told the Star that they witnessed a dead elephant being carried away by the raging waters in the Ewaso Nyiro River on Monday morning.

“We cannot access our farms in Congo, Entasopia, Daraja, Konei and Soweto because of the floods,” said Sirai.

Sirai said the pit latrines at the Entasopia Village Polytechnic were carried away by floods on Sunday night.

“We have advised our people to move away from low areas to higher grounds because the weather is unpredictable,” said Sirai.

Governor Joseph Lenku said the floods in Entasopia destroyed a local hospital and displaced several families on Sunday night.

He said Entasopia and Shompole are the most hit along with Nkaimurunya in Ngong and Kyang’ombe in Kitengela town.

In Nkaimurunya and Kyang’ombe, Lenku said at least 1,450 have been affected by the floods.

“Emergency teams from village levels have been activated in the entire county to monitor the situation during the day and night,” said Lenku.

He called on people living in flood zone areas to move away to avoid disasters and losing their lives.

The road connecting Kiserian and Magadi town has also been damaged by the floods that carried away tarmac in the entire route.

The people living in Shompole and Entasopia have also been cut off after the Lake Magadi water has risen.

The only way to cross to Shompole and Entasopia is by crossing Lake Magadi, and residents said that if the rains persist, they will not get food rations from Nairobi.  

A toilet left hanging after floods destroyed several of them on April 29 in Kajiado West.
A toilet left hanging after floods destroyed several of them on April 29 in Kajiado West.
Image: HANDOUT.
Ewaso Nyiro River.
Ewaso Nyiro River.
Image: SCREENGRAB.
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