FLOODS KILL

Six people have been confirmed dead following floods that have hit various parts of the country.

According to the Kenya Red Cross 2 people, a man and a woman have drowned at Kaptembwa area in Rhoda Location, Nakuru.

The two were riding on a 'boda boda' bicycle when they were swept away by raging floods. the body of the man was recovered, but efforts to recover the woman's body are ongoing.

One other person drowned in Mogotio while 3 children drowned in Dukana, Marsabit district.

Five people have been reported missing.

More than 200 livestock have been swept away by the floods while property of unknown value was lost in Samburu, Isiolo, Nakuru and other parts affected by floods.

At least 120 houses have been submerged in Garfasa in Garbatula, Upper Eastern Region and over 200 people displaced. Tens of manyattas, at least 190 goats and sheep, have been swept away by the raging floods.

Ten tourist lodges in Samburu and Isiolo near Archers Post were flooded, leading to a massive evacuation exercise for over 600 tourists.

Rescue efforts by Kenya Red Cross staff and volunteers, locals residents, Kenya Police, Kenya Wildlife Service, British Army who train in the area and Provincial Administration teams managed to move the affected tourists to safer grounds.

A tour guide Steve Lekango said at least 17 tourists, including Britons, Germans and Americans, were rescued by helicopter after bridges were destroyed by the deluge.

"At the moment every one of the guests in our camp is OK. It was very, very bad from 6am to 8.30am - there was a lot of destruction. Bridges were taken down so three helicopters were called to take guests away.

"Most of the guests were forced to climb trees while they waited," he said.

Kenya Red Cross Society is assisting in search and rescue efforts in parts affected by floods in Upper Eastern and West Kenya regions.

Two bridges namely Marsabit and Serena were washed away by the floods. However a Chinese company fixed a temporary bridge near Serena lodge, thereby enabling access to nearby lodges for recovery operations.

Heavy downpour in parts of Isiolo and neighbouring districts Friday morning caused the Ewaso Ng'iro River to burst its banks leading to the flooding of Samburu Serena toursit lodge which was completely marooned.

Kenya Army and private choppers were used to evacuate people from the hotel to safer grounds and the visitors were transferred to neighbouring tourist hotels while others were airlifted back to Nairobi.

Isiolo OCPD Augustine Nthumbi confirmed that the bridge linking Archer's Post and Isiolo along Isiolo - Marsabit road was also flooded with water rising over one metre from the bridge level rendering the road impassable.

Relocate

Meanwhile residents of the larger Tana River district in coast province have been urged to temporarily move to higher grounds following fears of flooding of the River Tana in coming days.

Coast provincial commissioner Ernest Munyi warned that the river might burst its banks following the ongoing heavy rains.

Munyi directed the district commissioner in charge of Tana North Reuben Loyotoman, Tana River DC Henry Obino and his Tana Delta counterpart Elias Kithaura to ensure that residents living in lower grounds were relocated immediately.

"I am reliably informed that due to heavy rains upcountry there is a very high likelihood that Tana river may burst its banks along its causeway. Please alert wananchi who live along the river to temporarily move to higher grounds," the PC directed.

In the recent past the country has been experiencing heavy rainfall occasioned by the El Nino effect. This came after several years of an acute drought that greatly affected most parts of the country leading to loss of lives and livestock especially in the dry northern parts of the country.

The meteorological department has warned that the country faces increased rainfall in the coming months as the long rainy season that is usually experienced between March and May gets underway.