Gov't Confirms 70 People Have Been Killed, 22 Others Injured By Floods

• According to the government, over 130,000 Kenyan households have been affected by the flooding disaster, with the death toll hitting 70
• Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said the government would allocate Ksh 4 billion as an emergency response
• This as the Kenya Meteorological Department warned of more than heavier rainfall in the coming days

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi: The Exchequer has been approached to allocate KSh 4 billion to tackle the crises caused by flooding.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua revealed on Friday, April 26.

How many Kenyans have been killed by floods?

Gachagua noted that the heavy torrential downpours had affected over 130,000 households in the country.

According to the government, over 70 people have been killed and 22 injured by the floods.

"We want to do several interventions so that we don't lose more lives, and that children are able to go to school, and there is no fear and panic among Kenyans. We are in discussion with the National Treasury. We are trying to put up KSh 4 billion as emergency intervention," said Gachagua.

He convened a multi-agency meeting at his Karen office to deliberate on the emergency response measures to arrest the devastations caused by the flooding disaster.

The deputy president said a team from the Kenya Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies would partner with the government to tackle the situation at hand.

He said priority would be given to Nairobi owing to the large number of households that have suffered the calamity.

Gachagua further clarified that the school reopening would be on April 29 as scheduled, the exception being on schools in neighbourhoods hugely affected by the floods.

What is the Kenya Meteorological Department's prediction?

Meanwhile, the Kenya Meteorological Department warned of heavier rains in the coming days.

Nairobi residents should brace for more rainfall as per the weatherman's projection.

The department urged Kenyans to stay prepared, adding that the rains would affect most parts of the city.

Other parts of the country would receive heavy rainfall exceeding 40mm in 24 hours.

Lake Victoria Basin, Rift Valley, Highlands West and East of the Rift Valley, Southeast Lowlands, coast, and northern sector from Thursday, April 25.

The intensity of the rain was expected to escalate to more than 50mm in 24 hours over the aforementioned regions from Friday, April 26 to Saturday, April 27.

Floods wreak havoc in Kenya

• Until April 25, floods had killed at least 35 people and destroyed unquantifiable amounts of property in most parts of the country.
• Mathare-based activist Benna Buluma is among 10 people who died in Mathare floodwaters following heavy rains.
• At least 690 households have been displaced by the flooding in parts of Homa Bay county as heavy rains persist.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

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Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua chairing a special meeting over the flooding situation in the country.

Gov't Confirms 70 People Have Been Killed, 22 Others Injured by Floods

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