by Seventy-six people have tragically lost their lives in Kenya due to floods caused by relentless monsoon rains since March, as stated by the government on Saturday. The situation has prompted authorities to issue a warning, urging residents to prepare for even heavier rainfall in the coming days.
The East African region, including Kenya, has experienced unusually strong rainfall in recent weeks, exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon. Flash floods have inundated roads and residential areas, forcing over 130,000 individuals from approximately 24,000 households to evacuate, with a significant portion affected in the capital city of Nairobi, revealed government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura.
Mwaura disclosed the grim news of six additional fatalities within the past 12 hours, bringing the total death toll to 76, with 29 individuals sustaining injuries and 19 reported missing. Nairobi has been particularly hard hit, accounting for 32 casualties and displacing 16,909 households.
Of grave concern is the status of the Seven Forks hydropower project’s dams along the Tana River, all of which are at full capacity. Mwaura warned of an imminent overflow downstream within the next 24 hours, advising residents in affected areas to seek higher ground as a precautionary measure.
The impact of the monsoon rains extends beyond Kenya, with neighboring Tanzania also grappling with devastating floods and landslides, resulting in at least 155 fatalities. Residents, like Khatibu Kapara from Dar es Salaam’s Jangwani neighborhood, describe the situation as dire, with properties lost and homes surrounded by floodwaters.
Burundi, facing similar challenges, has witnessed approximately 96,000 individuals displaced by incessant rainfall, as reported by the United Nations and the government. Uganda has also been affected, experiencing severe storms leading to riverbank breaches, resulting in two confirmed deaths and the displacement of several hundred villagers.
These catastrophic events underscore the urgent need for regional preparedness and response mechanisms to address the devastating impact of extreme weather events. With memories of the previous year’s deadly rains and floods still fresh, governments and communities must prioritize disaster resilience and mitigation efforts in the face of climate-related challenges.
