Death toll in Kenya’s devastating floods reaches 238

The death toll from the devastating floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Kenya since March has risen to 238.

The government spokesman, Isaac Mwaura, told journalists on Wednesday eight more died in the raging floods in the last 24 hours.

Mwaura said 47,000 households are displaced, while 286,011 people have been impacted by the heavy rains and flooding across the East African country.

He said the government was committed to safeguarding the lives of those affected and setting up houses to accommodate the displaced people.

READ ALSO: 188 dead in Kenya floods rises, 165,000 displaced as El Nino rains persist

Mwaura directed all persons living in riparian corridors and within the 30-meter radius of rivers across the country to vacate immediately or be forcefully removed.

“Nobody will go back to riparian areas within a 30-meter radius,” he added.

Meanwhile, some parts of the country remained cut off and inaccessible after roads and bridges were washed away, marooning thousands of residents, disrupting business across the country and forcing the indefinite postponement of school reopening.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now