Police have confirmed that at least 10 people have been killed and more than 15 families displaced after the walls of the Old Kijabe dam burst in Maai Mahiu.
Nakuru County Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi revealed on Monday Morning that at least 10 bodies had been recovered and that search and rescue operations were underway.
There are however fears that the death toll could rise as more people from the affected villages cannot still be located.
Naivasha sub-County Police Commander Stephen Kirui said that the incident has seen several locals trapped in the mud.
“A search and rescue operation is underway after a dam in Old Kijabe burst and flooded part of Maai Mahiu town in Naivasha. The old dam burst early Monday morning before the water swept away several houses. Several people have also been rushed to hospital,” Kirui said.
Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara visited the scene on Monday morning where she decried the destruction caused by the bursting of the dam.
“The extent of the damage is yet to be assessed, but the rescue operation led by the Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Police, and County Disaster team officials is underway,” said Kihara.
Those who are badly affected are from Kamuchiri Village where homes and farms have been completely swept away by the raging floods that uprooted tree stumps and destroyed roads.
The flooding also cut off traffic on the Nairobi-Naivasha highway.
A notice by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) warned that roads in the affected areas are now impassable and cannot be accessed.
“Approximately 700m from Mai Mahiu towards Naivasha and approximately 1km from Mai Mahiu towards Suswa/Narok, these areas are heavily affected, with road blockages reported,” KeNHA said in a statement.
