April 24, 2013
Over 10,000 families have been rendered homeless by floods in Central region, Kenya Red Cross officials have said.
Red Cross official in-charge of Central and upper Eastern region Gerard Bombe said the most affected parts are Murang’a, Nyeri and Kiambu counties.
He said over 2,000 acres under maize, bananas and beans plantation have also been destroyed by the floods.
“The worst hit by floods and mudslides include Murang’a, Laikipia, Nyandarua, Thika and Nyeri where a number of families have been displaced,” he added.
Bomber said that in Murang’a alone, over 200 acres of land have been destroyed by floods and there are fears that more could be destroyed as heavy rains continue to be experienced in the region.
Bombe and other Red Cross officials together with county government representatives toured some of the worst hit areas and they donated blankets and mosquito nets to residents.
Deputy governor Gakure Monyo, who led the delegation, said his office will employ water harvesting measures in the lower part of Murang’a which has been the most affected by floods.
Speaking at Kamahuha ward in Maragua where some houses were swept away and farms marooned by the rising water, Monyo said residents living in landslide and flood prone areas should vacate immediately.
“I appeal to residents who are still living in landslide prone areas to be very observant and move to higher grounds for their own safety,” he said.
He added that the county government will immediately form a disaster management committee to assess infrastructure and domestic damage caused by the floods.
Monyo said the floods have already claimed six people in Murang’a and left damages worth hundreds of thousands of shillings.
Source: All Africa
Leave a Reply