KENYA: Swollen rivers wash away homes

More than 16,000 people have been left homeless after their homes were washed away by floods in Tana River County.

Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) Coast Region manager Gerald Bombe said more than 6,000 people were also marooned when River Tana burst its banks.

Hundreds of acres under various crops were destroyed and an unknown number of livestock drowned in the water.

Mr Bombe said plans were underway to evacuate those trapped and asked locals in low areas to move to higher grounds. The KRCS official said 16 homes have been washed away and the affected people are living in temporary camps.

The situation is expected to worsen following heavy rains upcountry. Water levels along River Tana have increased from 4.1 metres to 5 metres.

"We are informed that the water levels are increasing day after day and would like to ask the locals to be on the look out to avert any loss of lives," Bombe said.

The KRCS official said no life has been lost in the area but told the people to avoid crossing the swollen river.

The affected villages are: Serani, Kiembeni, Tawakal, Exedek, Korlade, Lazima, Galili, Ongonyo, Matomba and Kamba. Others are Miesa, Hadade, Darga and Assa.

Bombe said KRCS officials are monitoring the situation.

Elsewhere, eight houses were brought down and more than 400 people displaced by raging floods in Matungu and Mumias districts in Kakamega County.

The displaced families are now camping at Mumias Township and Emurabe primary schools after their property was swept away when River Nzoia burst its banks.

The Standard