By Peter Ochieng
The number of people who have died as a result of floods across the country has surpassed the 210 mark.
The ministry of interior and national administration in the Friday morning update said 210 have lost their lives in various parts of the country, with 125 people having been injured.
The number of missing persons currently stands at 90, while a total of 33,100 households have been displaced affecting about 165,500 people.
The CS Kithure Kindiki led ministry says the total number of schools affected by the heavy rains stands at 1,967. At least 115 camps have been set up across 19 counties, hosting over 27,586 people.
The total number of people affected is approximately 196,296, with those not in camps setting base at friends or relatives houses.
On Thursday, Kindiki said 178 dams and water reservoirs situated on public and private land in 33 counties have filled up or are nearly filled up, and may spill over any time, posing a high risk to persons living in their neighbourhoods.
“All persons residing contiguous to the dams and water reservoirs are ordered to vacate the said areas immediately and in any case, within 24 hours effective today, failing which they will be subjected to mandatory evacuation for their safety,” said the CS.
He noted that the government has put in place adequate measures to provide temporary shelter, as well as food and non-food essential supplies to all those that will be affected by the vacation and evacuation orders.
He added that mandatory evacuation of affected persons shall be carried out strictly between 0600 hours and 1830 hours, insisting that for the avoidance of doubt, no mandatory evacuation shall be carried out at night.
“National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) are directed to work with county governments, humanitarian organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that the process of notification, vacation and mandatory evacuation, as well as provision of temporary shelter, food and non-food essential supplies is carried out in a timely, humane and effective way,” he added.
The Cabinet Secretary ordered all persons residing within the 30-metre riparian corridor of rivers and other water courses across the country to vacate immediately for their safety, and settlements unlawfully established on riparian land removed.