Persons found crossing flooded rivers and water bodies will be arrested and charged with attempted suicide or murder, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has directed.
In a statement on Monday, April 29, 2024, Kindiki lamented that there were increased reports of continued risky behaviour by motorists and pedestrians leading to loss of lives.
“The Government is deeply concerned by the loss of life and destruction of public and private property resulting from the ongoing floods. There are reports of continued risky behaviour by motorists and pedestrians and casual treatment by members of the public of weather forecasts and voluntary evacuation advisories,” Kindiki stated.
“To mitigate further loss of life, County Security and Intelligence Committees (CSICs) across the country are directed to immediately deploy enforcement teams at urban and rural road spots prone to stormwater flooding and without bridges or where the water has breached the bridge to prevent motorists or pedestrians from dangerous crossovers and to arrest and prosecute offenders for attempted suicide and/or attempted murder as the facts of the case may be.”
Also, Kindiki has directed CSICs to inspect all public and private dams and water reservoirs in their jurisdictions within 24 hours and recommend cases where compulsory evacuation and temporary resettlement orders are required.
The CSICs have also been directed to arrest persons taking advantage of the flood situation by using unsafe canoes and boats to move people across risky waters, endangering their lives.
“Prevent the transportation of passengers across flooded rivers or storm water by unsafe canoes or boats and arrest inexperienced and unscrupulous persons taking advantage of the prevailing situation to cash in on persons in distress,” Kindiki added.
“Further, unscrupulous persons in order to benefit from persons in distress during storms are endangering the public by constructing and operating rudimentary canoes or boats, and transporting stranded passengers for money.”
Kindiki says the government is coordinating relevant agencies to prevent further loss of lives and property through the escalating flood situation in the country.
“The government is coordinating all its relevant agencies and partners to prevent further loss of lives and property, and to support all those who have been affected by the ongoing torrential rains,” Kindiki added.
Mai Mahiu floods
This comes hours after flash floods in Mai Mahiu tragically claimed the lives of 45 individuals in Kamuchiri Village.
The catastrophe unfolded in the early hours of Monday morning when the nearby river Kijabe broke its banks and washed the village.
Efforts to recover more bodies are ongoing, with several still trapped in mud.
By the time of going to press, 109 people had been rescued and rushed to various hospitals within Naivasha.
On Sunday, a boat carrying several people capsized at Kona Punda while heading to Mororo.
23 people have so far been rescued and are currently receiving care at Madogo Hospital, while others are still missing.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, two bodies were retrieved from flood waters on Monday while six are still missing.
