Sunday rains: 7 confirmed dead after heavy downpour
The heavy rains that hit the country on Sunday didn’t pass without causing deaths in Nairobi County as some families mourn the loss of their loved ones.
A police officer identified as David Chesire lost his life in the line of duty while trying to save the lives of residents in Kamukunji.
According to Nairobi Regional Commander Adamson Bungei, Chesire was on his way to rescue four people who were trapped in a stall at the Country Bus Station before they were swept away by the floods. His body has yet to be recovered as rescue teams continue to search for his remains.
“As a result, the officer was swept away by the raging waters along with his AK 47 rifle,” the report said.
“We searched for him in vain. We are going back to the spot for further search,” Mr Bungei told the media.
Also read: Construction worker dies after being electrocuted by flood light
In the Dandora Phase 5 area, a family was left in tears after their daughter was swept away by the floods while trying to cross the makeshift bridge.
The incident happened at around 7 am on Monday, March 25, when the two students were on their way to Ushirika Primary School before one of them slipped into the fast-moving waters, at Maili Saba area which is
“The boy (Grade 7) asked the girl (the cousin) to go first, and when the girl was almost crossing the other side, she slid, and efforts to help her failed,” Esther Kamau, Principal at Ushirika said.
The police said that they were leading the efforts to recover her body, and one of the rescuers attempted to save the girl before drowning.
According to Nairobi County ward administrator Mr Charles Maboga, another body was recovered on Monday morning at Korokocho river banks.
Maboga said that he was called and informed about the body of a woman which was later picked by the police.
In a separate incident, a body was retrieved at the Makumi area within Waruku which has been confirmed by the Nairobi County Government.
Also read: Police search for missing cop swept away by floods at Bus Station in the City Centre
Disruption and displacement
In a statement, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said his disaster management team confirmed that more than 300 families were affected in Mukuru Kwa Reuben and Kwa Njenga and another 20 households in the Waruku area.
More than 300 families were also affected in the Kware area and about 150 families in Biafra and Kinyago in Kamukunji.
About 100 families were affected in Viwandani and 200 in Kayole’s Matopeni area.
The Njiru area also experienced some disruptions.
“I have directed the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company to mobilise its water bowsers and deploy them to the affected areas to provide clean drinking water to residents. Public Health Officers and CHPs are to intensify support on the ground by distributing water purification tablets and providing psychosocial support to those affected,” said Sakaja.
At press time, the Kenya Red Cross Society was still verifying data from its field assessment team.
Heavy traffic was reported on major roads during the downpour, including the Nairobi Express Way Peponi, Ojijo, Bunyala, Baricho and Jogoo roads.