Machakos: Police Chopper Helps Rescue Little Boy Trapped In Floodwaters

• A young Mutuku Kioko was almost drowning in Yatta, Machakos county when the police showed up in no time to save him
• The five-year-old was left behind by his father, Martin Kioko, police say, after a heavy downpour on Tuesday
• Kenya Red Cross had earlier sent its rescuers on a boat, but they failed in the rescue mission owing to the heavy downpour

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

A petrified five-year-old boy was reunited with his family after being marooned by floodwaters in Yatta.

Mutuku Kioko was in his father's company, who police say left him behind as the floods raged on following a heavy downpour.

How Machakos boy stranded in flood waters got saved

It took the intervention of Machakos county deputy governor Francis Mwangangi, who contacted the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome.

The IG coordinated the team at Wilson Airport, which immediately dispatched the police aircraft to save the little boy.

Initially, the Kenya Red Cross had sent its rescuers whose mission was thwarted by the unending rains.

"Initially, we deployed our rescue boat for the mission, but due to unfavourable conditions, the Kenya Police provided a chopper for the rescue," said the humanitarian organisation.

Mutuku got the chance to ride in the chopper before he was taken to a hospital for a check-up.

He would later be reunited with his family after the near-death experience.

"NPS wishes to thank the deputy governor Machakos county who on behalf of the people of Nduani, made that emergency and timely call to the Inspector General, and further reiterated our commitment to protect life and property," the police tweeted.

Expectant Isiolo mother saved from floods

Similarly, a pregnant woman was saved after being trapped in floodwaters in Isiolo.

She had been stuck in a submerged hospital van.

The Isiolo county officials, in cooperation with the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, marshalled efforts to fly the woman from the scene to the Isiolo County and Teaching Referral Hospital where she was en route on board the ambulance.

They deployed a helicopter with medics onboard to save the woman whose delivery date was due.

The woman had been booked at the Malkadaka dispensary but was transferred to the Garbatula Sub County Hospital, whose doctors referred her to the county's major hospital.

Onboard the ambulance, the woman was held up in the Kulamawe area, whose roads were rendered impassible due to flooding caused by the heavy rains, prompting her handlers to seek help.

She was flown to the hospital, where she safely delivered via the Caesarian section.

The Isiolo County Teaching and Referral Hospital medical superintendent, Hussein Abdi Mohamud, confirmed the woman was in stable condition after the operation.

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

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The National Police Service (NPS) sent a chopper to Machakos.

Machakos: Police Chopper Helps Rescue Little Boy Trapped in Floodwaters

Machakos: Police Chopper Helps Rescue Little Boy Trapped in Floodwaters