Torrential rains continue to displace thousands

Torrential rains continuing to pound various districts of Kenya have displaced another 5,000 people and killed six children, the Kenya Red Cross (KRCS) said on Wednesday. The worst-hit areas were the districts around the shores of Lake Victoria, lowland areas of western Kenya, and the Tana River Basin, it added.

The rains, which started in April and were expected to continue until June, had raised water levels in most rivers and flooded more areas. "The first week of May witnessed an increased rainfall that resulted in loss of lives, livelihood and destruction of homes," the KRCS said in a situation report.

According to the KRCS, the six children who died were killed by landslides in the western district of Nyeri. In another district, Nyando, about 500 km west of the capital, Nairobi, recent floods had displaced 2,342 people, of whom 1,242 were camping in the compounds of schools, churches and health institutions, it said.

"About 12,470 people have been affected," the KRCS said. "Five primary schools are submerged in flood waters. The rivers that have overflowed are the Nyando, Ombeyi and Miriu... The immediate needs are shelter and food. The sanitation situation is also poor as most latrines have collapsed and are filled up with water."

In Migori, at least 3,000 people were reported displaced after floods hit Nyatika Division over the weekend, while in Homa Bay, some 218 people were displaced and 2,000 affected over a period of one week.

The KRCS, World Vision and the Kenyan government were trying to respond to the situation, the KRCS said. The Kenyan health ministry had provided antimalarials, while the president's office had pre-positioned some relief food.

In early April, some 3,000 people were displaced and eight killed by floods. At least six schools were inundated, affecting school attendance by hundreds of children, and several roads were washed away by raging waters. Nearly 10,000 people were affected, mostly in western Kenya.