Heavy rains Wreck Havoc in Kenya

Editor's Choice

Most...

Viewed
Commented


1.	KENYA ELECTIONS: Concern as Aspirants Retreat to their Ethnic Roots
2.	KENYA: Luhya Community Rejects Politics of Ethnicity
3.	KENYA: New Constitution Restores Foreign Investors' Confidence
4.	SOUTH AFRICA: Commission concludes settlement with Oceana
5.	Uganda Troops Capture Senior Leader of the Lord Resistance Army


1.	SOUTH AFRICA: Commission concludes settlement with Oceana
2.	KENYA: New Constitution Restores Foreign Investors' Confidence
3.	International Organisation of Migration Appeals for Funding to Airlift Stranded...
4.	African Women Making Changes in Africa
5.	Uganda Troops Capture Senior Leader of the Lord Resistance Army

Submitted by IQ4News on Fri, 09/12/2011 - 11:02am

Heavy rains continue to wreck havoc in various parts of Kenya, displacing thousands and destroying property.

By Joab Apollo

Crops that were beginning to sprout have been swept away by water, causing anxiety to farmers who three months ago suffered the worst season due to crop failure occasioned by drought.

In Muranga, central province, residents are smarting from the loss of a police officer who was drowned in a ditch as he attempted to lead a relief mission in the area.

The rains have caused mudslides in Keiyo and Western Kenya.

Many roads are impassable and the bridges washed away after major Rivers Nzoia, Nyando, Soi, Migori and Kuja burst their banks.

Relief workers are finding it hard to do their work as Kenya's meteorological department maintains that the rains will subside in January.

In Budalang’i, Western Province, the region hard-hit by the ravaging floods, 40,000 people have been displaced while about three have been killed.

Local leaders led by Funyula Member Of Parliament, Dr. Paul Otuoma, have called upon residents to move to higher grounds in order to avoid being swept away by water.

Kenya Red Cross

”What matters now is your life. Don’t be worried about your household items as the life is more important than anything else,” Otuoma said.

He was accompanied by Lands Minister, James Orengo, and Water and Irrigation Permanent Secretary, David Stower, both emphasizing the government's commitment to do everything possible to avert a future calamity and ensure that victims are taken care of.

The Kenya Red Cross Society, one of the relief agencies in Kenya, puts the magnitude of the havoc to 90,000 displacements and 19 deaths country wide.

The society is assessing the situation to find out the most vulnerable areas to help them conduct their work effectively.

“We are currently undertaking an assessment through our branches countrywide to establish the magnitude of the problem and identify the most vulnerable of those affected and areas which we have not reached because of logistical challenges,” said Nelly Mulluka, the Kenya Red Cross Public Relations Officer.

Alarm sounded

The displaced are in dire need of relief in the form of food, mosquito nets, tents, blankets, cooking utensils and medicine.

In June, the Kenya Disaster Response Unit sounded an alarm about heavy rains in certain parts of Kenya, but the latest spate of flood have affected even areas previously believed to be safe.