14 Dead in Kenya Floods

Floods have struck in several areas of Kenya over recent days. After we reported the floods in in Taveta District, Taita-Taveta County, southern Kenya, there have since been reports of flooding in Kajiado county, Makueni County, Laikipia county, and Narok county, resulting in the deaths of 14 people.

Kajiado County
Flash floods stuck in Isinya, Kajiado county, near to Nairobi. Heavy rainfall led river levels to rise, and it is understood that at least 10 people died, most of them children, in a vehicle caught in fast moving water of a local river. The vehicle had been washed 10km downstream from the road.

Also in Kajiado county, but in a separate incident, two women were also killed in the floods as their vehicle was swept away by flood waters in the Oltepes area near Kiserian.

Makueni County
Heavy rainfall in Utiithi location in Kibwezi East, Makueni County, lead to floods that destroyed as many as 40 houses. Livestock and plantations have also been destroyed. Many of the people affected have left their homes for safer ground.

Laikipia county
In two separate incidents on Friday 13 December, 2 people died in floods in Ngobit location in Laikipia Central subcounty. The Ngobit River had burst its banks as a result of heavy rainfall. One of the victims, a man in his forties, was swept away in the raging flood water of the river. His body was recovered several kilometres downstream.

The other victim was a young girl, aged five, who was drowned when flood waters from the river inundated the house where she was sleeping. Her body was swept away and later found at Munyaka dam.

Narok county
Tourists and travellers were stranded in Narok county after heavy rains flooded roads in the region. The rain began on Wednesday 11 December and continued for 2 days. The floods blocked most parts of the Narok-Maasai Mara road, a road heavily used by visitors and tourists.

Sources: The Star Kenya, Standard Media