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Thousands of Kenyans have been displaced due to the rains pounding various parts of the country.

In Mombasa, the Disaster Management Committee is appealing for support from well-wishers to alleviate the suffering faced by over 1,671 persons affected by flooding in the County as rotavirus disease outbreak has claimed 10 lives so far.

The Disaster Management Committee addressed the press yesterday and told the residents to brace for more rains on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday morning following information from the weatherman.

Those living in the flood-prone areas were advised to move to higher grounds to avert loss of lives. Three health facilities in Nyali and Jomvu sub-counties have been flooded.

“There is an urgent need for water treatment, such as aqua tabs and chlorine tablets to address water contamination and the outbreak of diarrhoea diseases.

With the current outbreak of Rotavirus infections in Mombasa, the situation might escalate if immediate WASH interventions are not put in place,’’ said Kenneth Ambani CECM for Public Administration at the Red Cross offices.

Disease outbreak

The most affected areas by the flash floods and disease outbreak are Miritini, Jomvu, Mikindani, Kazonzo, Bakarani, Magogoni, Tudor, Buxton, Ziwani, Majengo, Msikiti Ridhwa, Dolphin, Mlolongo, Migadini, Mwembeni, Shonda and Timbwani.

“Some houses have been blown away by the heavy wind and rainfall. Currently, 22 houses in Miritini Madukani, Mburukenge, Kipevu, and Chaani area were completely damaged and 35 were partially damaged within the reported areas,” said Kenneth Ambani, CECM for Public Administration.

Kipevu Primary School is hosting 65 households affected by the incessant rains that pounded the Coastal city over the weekend. The heavy rainfall, CECM Ambani said has also affected livelihood programmes, with traders, hawkers, and the transport sector mainly affected.

Drop-off locations for donations are the Kenya Red Cross Mombasa offices, fire stations in Likoni and Changamwe and the Emergency and Operation Centre in Tudor.  The Red Cross officers will be collecting the donations.

The donation can also be channeled to the Kenya Red Cross Society Mombasa branch Paybill number 4081515 account name Flood Response.

In Mandera, at least 2,000 families were forced out of their homes after heavy rains that pounded the area for more than 12 hours wreaked havoc.

The heavy torrents characterized by floods submerged their homes forcing the families to seek refuge on higher grounds as the storm left a trail of destruction uprooting trees and other structures on its path.

Preliminary reports indicated an estimated 100,000 families were affected in parts of Mandera East, Mandera North and Mandera West constituencies where a heavy downpour was witnessed since the rainy season resumed.

Displaced residents are calling for urgent intervention for evacuation to higher grounds to save lives and property.

Water borne diseases

Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif while assessing the impact of floods urged residents to wary of risks of water borne diseases and told them to especially guard the children who were more vulnerable of contracting such infections.

He announced plans to roll out relief operations to affected families but appealed to all partners to stand with Mandera County during these difficult times.

He added; “the county is just emerging from an emergency caused by prolonged drought and was moving into another Emergency that caused by torrential rains.”

Mandera County Commissioner Amos Mariba told the residents to move to higher grounds so as not to be affected by the floods. He also added the government will do all it can to help the residents affected by the rains which have come with floods. Kenya Red Cross has also embarked on sensitization among the residents for them to move to safer areas.

Displaced

In Kisumu East constituency, Kisumu county residents are on the verge of being displaced following marauding flood effects.

On Sunday night several families in West and Central Kolwa locations were forced to spend a night in the cold after flash floods marooned their houses. The floods that followed a heavy downpour in the area also left several acres of farm crops swept away.

In the Central Kolwa area the most affected are Bwanda, Kamuga, Akado and Oyola villages.

Area chief Elijah Omumbo said a local river broke its banks causing the overflow to the neighbouring villages.

Omumbo said many houses were submerged in water due to the adverse flood effects.

The administrator said no life was reported lost in the calamity,  noting that they were closely monitoring the flood situation to assist in carrying out response mechanisms.

 “We are doing an assessment on the level of damage caused by the floods to aid mitigation measures. No one has so far been displaced but some of those affected are pondering whether to move to other alternative places or not,” he said.

In the neighbouring West Kolwa location, the floods affected homes adjacent to rivers Auji and Nyamasaria that overflowed following the heavy rains. Area Chief Otieno Kabisai said several residents were affected by floods as the water surrounded most of the homes, making it difficult for others to access their houses.

Kabisai added that the floods swept through many farms, destroying crops.