Floods continue to cause havoc in the North Rift sweeping crops away, destroying roads and displacing hundreds of residents. The most affected areas are Kerio Valley, parts of Pokot, Turkana, Marakwet and Nandi counties.
Health officials have been sent to carry out disease surveillance following fears the heavy rains may cause an outbreak of water borne diseases. Police in Uasin Gishu recovered four bodies of victims killed by the floods.
"The victims have been missing for four days. We suspect they were swept away by the floods," said area Deputy Police boss Charles Mutua. In Nandi the floods have killed four people and the Red Cross wants those living in hilly areas to vacate for safety. Transport has been paralysed on most routes and bridges have been swept away.
Elgeyo Marakwet county commissioner Muhammed Birik says farmers are unable to move farm produce from Kerio Valley to markets in Eldoret and other towns.
"Most roads have been damaged and can not be repaired until the rains subside. Roads from Marakwet and parts of Keiyo have been rendered impassable. Business has been low for farmers along with matatu operators,"said Birik.
Two small bridges were swept away by floods in Marakwet, cutting off communication between in some locations. Meanwhile, hundreds of families displaced by floods in parts of Rift Valley have not received tents and food.
Pokot South DC Kigen Kipkorir said they are working with Kenya Red Cross for the supply of tents, food and medical kits to the displaced families. He said several families in areas likely to be hit by floods have been given three days to vacate to safer areas.
"Many more people are still in areas which we have classified as dangerous and we have sent officers to help move them because the rains and increasing and the effects of the floods may be more," said Kipkorir. More than 10,000 people have been displaced by floods in Pokot, Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet and parts of Baringo.
About 8,000 residents are still marooned in areas classified as risky that are likely to be hit by landslides while others are trapped in the Kerio Valley escarpment even after they were ordered to move out. Birik said they are working with the Red Cross to help families to move out of the areas.
Tuesday 16 April 2013
http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-116877/eight-killed-nandi-uasin-gishu-flooding
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