The Ministry of Water and Sanitation has revealed the reason behind the killer flash flood in Mai Mahiu that has so far claimed 71 lives and left many injured.
Water washed away several homes in the wee hours of Monday morning prompting emergency responses from the national and county governments who have camped at the premise for the last 24 hours.
In a statement to newsrooms, Water Cabinet Secretary (CS) Zechariah Njeru said that the incident was a result of a blocked railway line tunnel preventing proper flow of water through 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 its banks at a high pressure which swept the railway line and flowed downstream at a high speed causing the destruction witnessed.
Njeru also clarified that the area has no dam, as cited in several reports, saying that the only dam in the premise is Matches Dam and it is located upstream, far from the affected premise.
Most parts of the nation have in the last few days experienced massive floods following heavy downpours, leading to massive loss of lives, injuring of others and displacement of people.
As of Monday evening, government figures showed that 166 people had died from flooding since heavy rains began in most of Kenya in March.
Kenyans residing in flood prone areas have been urged to take heed to cautionary measures for their own safety.
