Death toll from El Nino floods jumps to 136
The death toll from raging floods in various parts of the country rose to 136 on Thursday, November 30, 2023, after 16 more people died in the last 24 hours.
Confirming the deaths, the National Government Communications Centre, said the number of households displaced remains at 92,432, comprising 462,160 persons.
Further, the team composed of Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omondi and Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura announced on Thursday that a decrease in rainfall is anticipated across most parts of the country with sunny and dry conditions prevailing over the Northern half of the country.
However, occasional rainfall is expected to continue over the Southern pans of the country including the counties of Narok, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu, parts of Kajiado, Taita Taveta, Kwale and Makueni.
To mitigate the effects of the floods, the government said the ongoing food distribution programme will continue across the affected counties.
"10 Tonnes of assorted food items have been airlifted to Wajir this morning. KDF has also airdropped food items at Chebaso in Isiolo County," the government said in a statement.
The government further noted that Kutulo-Elwak Road which was destroyed by the heavy floods has been repaired and is open for traffic.
"This (repair) has allowed the 36 truck-convoy carrying various commodities including food and diesel that was stuck at Tullow to now reach its destination. Other roads affected shall be repaired once the waters subside," the statement adds.
Further, the government announced more rescue and medical interventions including the deployment of boats from Mombasa to Garissa to assist in the ongoing efforts.
"The diarrhoea cases reported in Lamu, Garissa, Kwale, Mandera and Wajir are being managed," the government said.
"The Cholera kits donated to the State Department of Public Health by the World Health Organization (WHO) are being dispatched from the WHO regional hub to the Kenya Red Cross warehouse for last-mile distribution to 17 counties.
"Mosquito nets will also be distributed to Isiolo County on Saturday and other areas will follow suit."
Further, the government announced that the floods had left a trail of livestock deaths and the destruction of crops on farms.
"72 poultry, 12 cattle, 1,680 goats, 728 sheep and 1 camel have died. 6,500 ha in Riverine Tana Irrigated Farms In Garissa County have been flooded. 3,370 acres of farmlands in Wajir County have also been flooded," the government said adding, "Farmers are advised to harvest mature crops and make use of temporary storage facilities in the counties."
