Heavy rainfall on Friday evening caused widespread destruction in Kenya, leaving dozens of families homeless. In Turkana County, flash floods destroyed over 100 houses, disrupting transport services in several areas. The Kenya Meteorological Department has forecast continued rainfall into next week, raising concerns among residents of affected counties. Residents are appealing for urgent assistance from the government and well-wishers.
In Tana River County, raging floodwaters swept away over 200 head of livestock, highlighting the scale of destruction caused by the ongoing rains. The expanse of floodwater in Kote village illustrated the impact of the heavy rains that pounded the area on Friday night. Residents were left trying to retrieve the carcasses of their livestock, while others were too distraught to make the attempt. The floods also swept away household belongings, leaving some families with little more than the livestock that survived.
A resident of Kote village, Abdinoor Hassan, described the devastating impact of the floods on their livestock. "Mifugo ilikuwa mia tatu na tatu saa hii ile kitu ambayo wenzetu wamekuja kutusaidia na kutuokolea ni mbuzi ishirini na tatu ama ishirini na nne pekee ndiyo imebaki," he said. Another resident, Abdi Chure, appealed for assistance from the government and well-wishers. "Bakuli na na nguo na sufuria yote walienda sasa hakuna chochote yenye tumbaki nayo isipokuwa ni hiyo mbuzi peke yake sasa unaomba ndugu zetu Waislamu na serikali watusaidie mapema."
The floods have also disrupted transport services in the affected areas. Kote village has been cut off after floodwaters covered roads, putting pedestrians and motorists at risk of being swept downstream into River Tana. Madogo MCA Juma Dido stated that it took them six hours to travel from Madogo to Kote due to the flooded roads. The police were also affected, with officers transporting KCSE examination papers being stranded for over an hour on Friday afternoon.
In Turkana County, over 100 families were affected after flash floods destroyed their homes. Amateur footage shows the state of roads in the vast county, where police officers were stranded for over an hour on Friday afternoon. The Kenya Meteorological Department has urged Kenyans to remain cautious as the rains continue. With continued rainfall forecast, the extent of further flooding remains uncertain.
The floods have had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of residents in the affected areas. Residents are appealing for urgent assistance from the government and well-wishers to help them recover from the losses. The government and humanitarian organizations are yet to respond to the appeals for assistance.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that the rainfall is expected to persist into next week, raising concerns among residents of Turkana and Tana River counties. The department has urged Kenyans to remain cautious as the rains continue. The floods have highlighted the need for preparedness and mitigation measures to reduce the impact of natural disasters in the country.
Key points
- Over 100 homes destroyed in Turkana County
- Over 200 head of livestock swept away in Tana River County
- Continued rainfall forecast to persist into next week
