One person has gone missing after an excavator they were travelling in was swept away by the swollen River Mara, in Mararianta area, at Aitong` in Narok West, this morning.
Five other people were rescued and treated of minor injuries at nearby health facilities and discharged in the 11.00am incident.
Confirming the incident, Narok South and West OCPD, Anthony Shimoli said the excavator belonging to North Cape camp limited was ferrying the six people across the river, when the incident occurred.
The machine is still stuck in the river, as we were going to the press and a multi-sectoral team, led by security personnel has been dispatched to the scene to search for the missing person and remove the excavator.
Earlier this week, a group of tourists were rescued and airlifted from the famous Masai Mara River, after their van was submerged in raging floods. On Thursday this week, floods caused havoc in Narok town destroying bridges and buildings in its wake.
Earlier, over 50 families had been left homeless and over 80 goats swept away at Orrosidan village in Mosiro area in Narok East after River Ewaso-nyiso burst its banks.
Over 40 acres of crops under irrigation at Mosiro irrigation scheme have been destroyed by the floods, which could spell doom to the residents of the area that has been experiencing perennial droughts.
Two week ago, nineteen people died while four were seriously injured, after a bus they were travelling in, plunged into the swollen Siyiapei River, along the Narok-Maai Mahiu road.
Most of the dead are said to have drowned in the river after the bus plunged.
Many parts of the country are currently experiencing heavy downpour that has led to destruction of property and loss of lives and cut off communication in some areas.
Roads in the area have also been rendered impassable, thus hampering rescue operations.
Motorists plying Narok-Maai-Mahiu road especially, Suswa area during this rainy season have been warned to be careful over fears of huge silts that has on several occasions made the road impassable.
A week ago, hundreds of commuters were left stranded after 10 vehicles were swept downstream by the raging flush floods at Suswa area.
“We are urging those using Maai Mahiu road to consider avoiding the Narok route and instead connect to Nakuru, then Mau Narok-Kisiriri road, and similarly those heading to Nairobi from Kericho, Bomet and western Kenya should use the Nakuru route to avoid being held in endless jam, caused by the floods,” cautioned the Narok police commander, Mr. Thomas Ngeiywa.
Due to the ongoing rains a section of the road between Suswa and Duka Moja trading centres was cut off for the third time, this week after flood waters accompanied by heavy sand and mud spilled across the road.
By Mabel Keya –Shikuku
