Deaths as heavy rains wreak havoc

Embu county commissioner Jack Obuo said two of the five victims drowned in Mbeere South while another two were swept away in Mwea.

The other victim died following a landslide in Embu West subcounty.

Obuo said authorities were monitoring areas prone to landslides to avert further loss of life as heavy rains continue pounding the country.

“Most in Embu East we have mapped out about four to five villages and we are also monitoring Gikuuri road which had developed cracks,” he said on Friday evening.

“We are worried the cracks may lead to landslides,” the county commissioner added, further revealing that 16 villages in three locations in the Ivurori area are also on the radar for flood response in case of disaster.

The deaths in Embu were announced just moments after about dozen people on a sand-carrying lorry were plunged into floodwaters as they attempted to cross a swollen Muatine River at Sultan Hamud in Makueni county.

Most of the victims had hiked a lift on the lorry that was ferrying sand and was attempting to cross over to the Ngoto area in Kilome subcounty.

Wailing crowds on either side of the road watched helplessly as the tragedy unfolded and as raging waters swept the victims downstream.

Kenya Red Cross said it deployed first responders to the scene of the accident.

“Seven individuals were rescued, and promptly taken to Sultan Hamud Subcounty Hospital following the incident. Our response efforts remain ongoing,” the humanitarian agency said.

In its update on Thursday, the Kenya Red Cross said floods had claimed at least 45 people since March, including 10 since Monday.

Authorities are yet to issue updated statistics but the number is believed to have surged in light of new case reported across the country.

In Nairobi, heavy afternoon rains pounded the city, heaping more misery on residents. Most of Mathare slum was flooded.

In Machakos, floodwaters continued to cause havoc in Athi River, where estates remain flooded.

The governors from the Lower Eastern region on Friday appealed for help in rescuing and resettling affected residents.

Governors Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), Mutula Kilonzo Jr (Makueni) and Julius Malombe (Kitui) said the current heavy rains pounding the region have led to loss of lives, destruction of property and displacement of hundreds of residents.

They called for help from the national government, non-state actors and well-wishers.

"Residents are counting losses after the raging floods destroyed homes, infrastructure, crops and property of unknown value,” they said in a joint statement issued under the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc.

They said Machakos county was the hardest hit by the flooding menace, which had so far rendered more than 2,000 residents homeless, especially in Kinanie, Syokimau and Athi River.

"The damage is colossal after dams and rivers burst their banks leading to massive flooding that has caused disruption of transport services."

The governors said that the three counties are currently evacuating residents marooned by the floods and asked residents living in low-lying areas to move to higher grounds to prevent further loss of lives.

"Residents are also advised not to drive in heavy rains and avoid sheltering under trees to avoid lighting strikes," they said.

On Thursday, President William Ruto announced the government would use force to evacuate those in danger of floods.

“Unfortunately, we will have to move some of the [flood victims] without their consent because otherwise, they are putting themselves in danger," the President said after he convened a multiagency disaster response team at State House to explore urgent interventions.