The Ministry of Water and Sanitation has revealed the cause of the deadly flash flood in Mai Mahiu, which has claimed 71 lives and injured many.
Water washed away several homes in the early hours of Monday morning, prompting emergency response from the national and county governments, who have been camped at the site for the past 24 hours.
Water Cabinet Secretary (CS) Zechariah Njeru said in a statement to newsrooms that the incident was caused by a blocked railway line tunnel, which prevented proper flow of water through the River Tongi.
“The channel got blocked due to debris, stones, trees and soil brought about by the heavy downpour in the area thereby preventing water flowing through the River Tongi course and its small tributaries to move downstream,” said Njeru.
He added that the river and its tributaries then burst their banks at high pressure, sweeping the railway line and flowing downstream at high speed, resulting in the destruction seen.
Njeru also clarified that the area does not have a dam, as claimed in several reports, and that the only dam in the area is Matches Dam, which is located upstream and far from the affected premises.
Most parts of the country have experienced massive floods in recent days as a result of heavy rains, resulting in massive losses of life, injuries, and displacement.
As of Monday evening, government figures showed that 166 people had died as a result of flooding since heavy rains hit most of Kenya in March.
Kenyans living in flood-prone areas have been advised to take precautionary measures for their own safety.
