This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
Heavy rainfall has brought widespread flooding to various parts of Kenya, resulting in the loss of at least 194 lives and displacing over 100,000 people.
According to Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, 30 people have died in the last 24 hours due to the floods.
Wamalwa urged Kenyans living in flood-prone areas to relocate immediately, citing the risk of further disaster.
“Please, if you are living close to a water body like Trans Nzoia please move. Listen to what the government is asking you. County commissioners know where to relocate people,” Wamalwa said.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i also announced plans to forcibly move people living in flood-prone areas, stating that the government has no option but to act.
“We have an operation, and we are moving people away from danger. If we don’t move people along water bodies, it will be disastrous,” Matiang’i said.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter warned that dams are full to capacity and at a dangerous level, emphasizing the need for people to move to higher grounds.
“We have never witnessed this, and that is not a good sign, people must move”, Keter said.
On Tuesday, the Kenya Meteorological Department forecasted heavy rainfall in several regions, including West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, and Kisii, for the next week.
