President William Ruto has ordered all Kenyans living within areas prone to the effects of the heavy rains being witnessed in various places to vacate.
Ruto while speaking in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County on April 30, 2024, directed those living within the areas labelled as fragile ecosystems and known to be prone to floods, mudslides, landslides, and those along riparian lands to move out within the next 48 hours.
“There are areas like here we are urging all Kenyans living in such areas to evacuate from those areas in time because the forecast is that rain will be continuing in the future. We have decided as a government where there is risk of floods and landslides from tomorrow all residents should move. We must take action and make sure that the lives of Kenyans are safe,” said Ruto.
This came after the Head of State chaired an emergency meeting at State House to discuss the flood situation in the country.
The Cabinet discussed additional measures set to be undertaken by the government in response to the effects of the ravaging floods.
This directive came as heavy rains continue to wreak havoc in the country with the Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura announcing that the death toll in the countrywide floods’ tragedy have shot up to 169.
In an earlier statement on April 30, Mwaura disclosed that 91 people are still missing in separate incidents across the country.
Floods wreak havoc
“70 people have been reported as missing, bringing the national tally to 91 (76 in the Rift Valley region, 10 in the Eastern region, 4 in Nairobi County and 1 in the Coast region.) This is an increase from yesterday’s tally of 21 persons,” read part of the statement.
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The Ministry of Interior on its part indicated that Nairobi, Tana River, West Pokot, Nakuru and Murang’a are among counties that have been adversely impacted.
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Of the reported missing persons, the Mai Mahiu mudslide tragedy leads with the incident accounting for 53 of those missing persons while Garissa has reported 16 missing persons.
Mwaura disclosed that the injured are currently receiving treatment in different health facilities in the area and assured that the government will cater for all their hospital bills.
The tragedy paralyzed transport along the main Nairobi-Mai Mahiu-Nakuru and Narok road, leaving motorists stranded since 4 am on Sunday according to the police.
Additionally, the Interior Ministry highlighted that at least 190,942 people have been affected by the floods.
Also Read: FLOODS LIVE UPDATES: Govt to Pay Bills Flood Victims as Death Toll Hits 45
In an interview on Monday, the Head of State defended the government’s response to flooding in the wake of the heavy rains pounding the country.
Ruto on floods
Ruto in the interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) refuted claims that his administration has not responded adequately to the disaster.
He pointed out that his administration has taken a whole of government approach to address the emergency to respond effectively to disasters.
According to him, the national government was working with county governments and development partners to ensure a wholesome government approach.
“The instruments that have been built into budgets give governments at all levels emergency resources. There is always room for any county to adjust their budgets to take care of emergencies,” he said.
President Ruto had last week directed the government’s multi-agency team to step up flood response.
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