An eighty-year-old granny was on Saturday morning found dead after being swept by raging floods in Tangulbei in Tiaty East Sub-County.
Speaking to KNA on phone, the area Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Sylvester Munyasia, said the elderly woman was living alone at the time of the incident.
“The body of Cheboro Lantokori was found a few metres away from where her house stood. Houses belonging to over 20 people were also swept in the night of rains,” confirmed Munyasia.
According to the DCC, the heavy rains also cut off Tangulbei town after sweeping a section of the Tangulbei bridge which also connects the market.
“The waters also caused loss of goods as it made way into the shops, the people are in dire need of food and we have called on Kenya Red Cross to offer humanitarian assistance to the affected,” added the DCC.
Munyasia further stated that Kenya Red Cross has assessed the situation and have promised to respond.
The administrator has also asked scores of households living on the River Tangulbei banks to relocate to safer grounds to avoid further suffering as the rains endure.
According to nominated MCA Eunice Kakerer, the floods started at around 2 am when the waters got into the houses and also swept away motor bikes which are an important means of transport.
“We also fear rise of water borne diseases as the pit latrines have been submerged thereby making water unsafe to drink,” added Kakerer.
Baringo Deputy Governor Jacob Chepkwony condoled with the family of the deceased and called on the residents to relocate from water catchment areas.
He also confirmed that he had dispatched a team from the County disaster department to assess the situation before sending aid to the affected residents.
The river is fed by surface runoff from the Churo hills and those from neighbouring Laikipia county and feeds Lake Baringo on the lower side.
Majority of the residents live in semi-permanent houses that were swept while those in permanent premises are also counting losses as the water damaged their properties.
By Christopher Kiprop
