Ruto convenes cabinet meeting over deadly Kenya floods

Nearly 50 people have been confirmed dead and 110 injured following floods near the town of Mai Mahiu in Kenya’s north-western Nakuru county.

The death toll was reported on Monday as floodwaters swept away houses, cars, and uprooted trees in the town.

Police initially blamed the flooding on a burst dam. However, the ministry of water later said it was caused by a river tunnel under a railway embankment blocked with debris.

“The water (eventually) swept the railway line and started moving downstream with a very high speed and velocity, causing destruction of property and loss of lives,” the ministry said.

The incident comes as flooding has swallowed large swathes of Kenya, killing at least 120 people and forcing thousands of residents from their homes since March.

The East African nation has experienced heavy rains since mid-March, but downpours have intensified over the past week, leading to devastating floods.

Jagan Chapagain, secretary-general and CEO of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), blamed the flooding on the combined effects of El Niño — a climate pattern that originates in the Pacific Ocean along the equator and impacts weather all over the world — and the ongoing March-May 2024 long rains.

“The situation in flood-affected Kenya demands immediate humanitarian assistance,” Chapagain said.

President William Ruto convened a special cabinet meeting on Tuesday to discuss measures to tackle the floods.

Ruto said the cabinet will “discuss additional measures” to address the crisis and assured that citizens who are victims of the floods will be looked after.