This archive report was first published on 14 May 2020.
Kenya's Devolution ministry has sounded a warning to Kenyans living near rivers and areas prone to mudslides and landslides to exercise caution.
As of Wednesday morning, at least 237 people have lost their lives due to floods, a number that is significantly higher than those who have died from COVID-19, according to Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa.
Wamalwa noted that the situation is worsening, with the number of deaths rising from 194 confirmed during the last briefing on the flooding situation.
He also revealed that 161,000 households have been affected or displaced, and that over 807,000 Kenyans are affected by the floods.
Wamalwa urged people living in flood-prone areas to move to safer grounds, warning that the situation will worsen as rains continue and dams fill up.
He also mentioned that Lake Victoria has been heavily affected, with water levels rising due to the ongoing rains.
According to Wamalwa, over 44,000 people have been displaced by floods in Budalangi, while over 60,000 have been displaced in Nyando.
He assured that all affected families will receive support from the national government, including relief food, and that supplies will be stepped up as the situation worsens.
Other areas that have been heavily affected include Lake Naivasha, Tana River, Nzoia River, parts of Central Kenya, Garissa, Nakuru, and Mandera.
Kenya Meteorological Department Director Stella Aura warned that areas such as the highlands on the west of the Rift Valley, Central and South Rift Valley, and highlands east of the Rift Valley, including Nairobi, are expected to receive heavy rainfall in the next seven days.
At least 100 schools across Central Kenya have had their infrastructure destroyed by rain, with Murang'a county suffering the most, with 71 primary and secondary schools affected.
Kenya Red Cross Society Central Regional Manager Gitonga Mugambi said that worst-hit counties are Murang'a, Kiambu, and Kirinyaga, with teams on the ground assessing the situation.
Regional Commissioner John Elungata toured flood-hit areas in Tana River County to assess the extent of the destruction, leaving over 5,000 people homeless and acres of maturing crops submerged.
