Over 5,000 displaced as floods wreak havoc in Kenya

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya

More than 5,000 people have been displaced as floods wreaked havoc in the country’s coastal regions, the Kenya Red Cross said on Monday.

The fresh floods have swept away houses and bridges while destroying crops in Taita Taveta County in Coast Province.

Kenya's Daily Nation quoted Taveta Red Cross coordinator Joram Oranga, who is overseeing the rescue operations, as saying: “The water is still flowing so we cannot do much now. We are waiting for the water to stop flowing then we will know the exact number of people affected by the floods.”

Different areas in Kenya have been receiving above average rainfall prompting the Kenya meteorological department to issue an advisory warning of heavy rains and storms.

The warning focused on those living in the coastal region and the highlands west and east of the Rift valley.

The Kenya’s Ministry of Environment had warned those living in the coastal region and the Mount Kenya region among other areas prone to flooding “to be on the lookout for heavy rainfall that may result in flashfloods and lightning.”

Commuters plying the busy Nyali-Mtwapa-Mbogolo highway were on Monday left stranded after the Mbogolo Bridge was washed away by rain.