Rains of death: At least 29 killed in Mandera, Wajir flash floods

MANDERA, Kenya - Operations within North Eastern Kenya have been literally grounded following heavy rains in the region that have been witnessed in the past week, Garowe Online reports.

Efforts to restore normalcy are underway with the Kenyan government confirming the deaths of at least 29 people, with most deaths occurring in Mandera and Wajir counties.

Four children drowned on Tuesday in Eldas, Wajir County as they attempted to swim in a swollen stream. Two of the victims were in Standard Five, one in Grade One and another in Grade Three.

For the better part of Friday, Devolution minister Eugene Wamalwa spearheaded the distribution of relief food in Wajir North. He was accompanied by Governor Mohamed Mohamud.

Government spokesman Col (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna on Thursday said over 10,000 people had been displaced, adding that rescue operations were ongoing.

"There have been rescuing operations enhanced to help those displaced to be taken to safe areas," said Oguna, when fielding questions from journalists.

Transport, education and health services remain grounded, with major roads such as Takaba-Mandera and Wajir-El Wak remaining impassible.

Wajir Governor Mr. Mohamud said many residents risked contracting diseases, adding that hundreds could die of hunger if urgent measures are not taken.

"They can't access health centers due to impassible roads. Vehicles transporting food items cannot access the affected regions. We are trying hard with National Government to solve this," he said.

Early this week, an aircraft operating between Mandera and Tabaka towns got stuck in the mud at Takaba airstrip, forcing passengers to wait for several hours.

Raphael Kerauni, a teacher at Takaba High School in Mandera West told Garowe Online that 'students risk missing out national exams if nothing is done'.

According to him, even if the government airlifts examination papers to affected areas, the situation is even complicated given that learners and teachers cannot access schools.

"As teachers, we cannot access schools. There are floods everywhere. Even students cannot. Even of exam papers are airlifted, we still have a big problem," he said.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang' i promised that national exams that are scheduled to kick off on Monday will be dispatched by security teams to affected areas.

Col (Rtd) Oguna said the government will prioritize the construction of dams in the arid and semi-arid counties as a remedy to such calamities.

"It's sad that we have lost 29 people but we are in the process of building dams. I will not give a specific timeline but it's something we are expediting," added Oguna.

Humanitarian teams are using choppers to traverse the affected regions even as the government maintained 'it has enough relief food for the affected people'.

Other counties that have witnessed flash floods include Garissa, Marsabit, Isiolo, Tana River, Lamu, Mombasa, and Kwale. The effect, however, is not as devastating as witnessed in Mandera and Wajir.

Reporting by Abuga Makori in Nairobi; Editing by Omar Nor

GAROWE ONLINE