Floods calamity: ODM creates response team
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has established a Disaster Response Committee following the loss of lives during floods.
The opposition party, in a move it says is aimed at "caring for fellow Kenyans", has appointed 10 members to the committee chaired by Party Leader Raila Odinga.
Other members include Senators Eddy Gicheru Oketch, Hamida Kibwana, MPs James Nyikal (Seme), Catherine Omanyo (Busia) and Mishi Mboko (Likoni).
Others include Nasra Nanda (MCA, Nairobi), Peter Imwatok (Majority Leader in Nairobi County Assembly), Abbas Khalif (MCA, Nairobi) and ODM Youth Director Benson Musungu.
"As a response to the National Flooding Crisis the ODM Party has established a 9-member Disaster Response Team to coordinate a response and relief efforts to the ongoing crisis," ODM stated.
"We stand together with the victims of flood disaster in our country."
The government is conducting its search and rescue operations through the County governments, Kenya Defense Forces, Kenya Coast Guard Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Red Cross.
Additional search and rescue support is being provided by the National Youth Service, National Police Service, National Disaster Operation Managers, Public Health Officers and ambulance service providers.
Floods losses
As of Wednesday, a total of 257 lives had been lost to floods according to the official government data. A total of 188 people have been injured, while 293, 661 people have been affected and 54,837 households have been displaced.
"Additionally, 61 health facilities have been affected in 11 Counties and crops on approximately 9,816 acres of land have been destroyed. 44 cholera cases have been reported so far, with the Ministry of Health together with the Kenya Red Cross conducting medical outreach programmes as well as cholera control and other waterborne diseases in Tana River and Marsabit Counties," Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura stated.
Additionally, several washaway incidents have been recorded, with adverse impacts on our railway lines and train operations. These include the section between Thika and Nanyuki as well as within the Chemelil and Kibigori railway section on the Nakuru-Kisumu branch line. The Nairobi- Kisumu and Nairobi-Nanyuki long-distance operations have also been affected as operations are yet to resume. Repair works are currently ongoing, with the Kenya Railways Authority targeting to open the affected lines by the end of May 2024."
192 dams have been identified as high risk, following a national assessment of all dams. Consequently, varied evacuation exercises are being undertaken across the country.
