Nairobi region tops the list of displaced persons with 164,000 individuals directly impacted by the floods, followed by the Nyanza region with over 40,000 affected residents, Eastern region ranks third with 5,957 casualties, followed by the Central and Coastal regions.
According to Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura announced that the government has also stepped-up efforts to offer support to victims of floods and landslides that have killed 238 people and left 75 missing.
In addition, 174 individuals are nursing critical injuries while 47,000 households have been displaced amidst the ongoing heavy rainfall pounding various regions of the country causing widespread flooding.
Speaking while on a tour of Kisumu County, Mwaura said that the national government has collaborated with various agencies as well as humanitarian organizations like the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) to enhance the support to affected persons.
“Accordingly, the government has deployed varied mechanisms to handle the disaster and to manage the ongoing evacuations. The KDF and NYS have been deployed to assist in the search and rescue operations while the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) have been mobilized to assist residents to move to safer areas,” he added.
The evacuations, he noted, are conducted in a humane and structured manner and the impacted households receive temporary shelters, food, blankets, drugs, and mattresses to cushion them from the vagaries of harsh weather.
Mwaura also presided over the distribution of non-food items to 441 people from the Kabonyo Kanyagwal area adversely affected by the backflow from Lake Victoria. The donation package was procured through support from KRCS valued at Sh. 6,500 each consists of a kitchen set, blankets, a mini tent, a water purifier, bar soap, blankets, mosquito nets, dignity pack, leso and a torch.
He further said the government has mobilized and deployed on the ground the civil registry, lands, the Kenyan National Examination Council (KNEC), and registration of persons’ departments to facilitate the free replacement of vital lost documents.
The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Public Service, County Administrations, and Participatory Development, Judith Oluoch, who represented Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o at the event, said that the flood crisis is worsening and has caused untold suffering to residents in the area.
Oluoch lauded the national government for its partnership with the lakeside county and other stakeholders to address the humanitarian emergencies.
However, she recommended that the government should implement long-term interventions such as constructing dykes along River Nyando and the completion of the Koru Soin dam to alleviate the impacts of recurrent floods.
At the same time, the CECM pleaded with the locals to relocate to safer areas in good time to prevent further flood damage.
“We have about 30 designated evacuation centres; we have churches and schools on raised grounds. Please don’t wait until the water comes because you will not manage it. Disaster management is a joint responsibility,” she cautioned.
By Robert Ojwang’ & Victor Seda
