ANOTHER DANGEROUS FLOOD STORMS KENYA CLAIMING HUNDREDS OF LIVES AND DESTROYING PROPERTIES (2024)

 THE KENYAN FLOODS AND IMPACT EVEN ON EDUCATION

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A Natural disaster has broken its way into the daily lives of Kenyans again. Many parts of Kenya have been experiencing heavy rains since the 18th  of April 2024. 

As one can see in the images, the heavy rain has led to floods leaving many people in distress following the ruins it has caused. The capital city, Nairobi and its surroundings, have been severely affected by this merciless flood. Low-income areas in Nairobi like Kibera, Mathare, Githurai, and Mukuru kwa Njenga have been severely affected due to lack of solid structures, poor drainage systems and infrastructures, and congestions. This leaves people homeless and at risk of contracting diseases like cholera, typhoid and diarrhea.

 

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Additionally, the Nairobi River and Athi River both broke out of their banks sweeping away houses along their paths and damaging nearby neighborhoods leaving about 40,000 people displaced and homeless.

A total number of 17 bridges have been destroyed, making it hard for people to cross from one side to another. In Mai Mahiu, about 60 kilometers from Nairobi about 50 people died after being swept away by the heavy rains as they slept at a dam nearby. Generally, across the whole country, over 180 people have been reported dead. 

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In the North Eastern part of Kenya where the main source of income is the keeping of livestock, the residents have lost their source of livelihood watching their cattle swept away by the oceanic rains.

The families in this part of the country also face displacement. While some of them camp along the Garissa-Nairobi highway, some people have camped at a nearby school, Jaribu Primary School to seek refuge.

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Farmers across the country lament their losses as they watch their crops flowing with the waters. They report that this comes after they have heavily invested their resources in buying seeds and fertilizers. Just when the crops were looking healthy, and they hoped for a better harvest. This is like a nightmare in their eyes.

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Due to the continuous rainfalls, the Cabinet Secretary for Education issued a statement that schools that were to re-open for the second term on 29th April 2024, now re-opens by the 6th of May 2024 hoping that the rains would have reduced. Some schools have been destroyed and brought to ruins. Even after the 6th of May, schools in some parts of the country like Busia County will not be able to open because the classrooms are left in bad conditions.

The government has made the public to understand that they are looking for ways to help the affected families and schools for life to return to normalcy.