By Lauryne Akoth
The government has announced that it will take care of all hospital bills for the victims of the flash floods in Mai Mahiu that claimed the lives of 45 persons.
The incident occurred on Monday, 29th April after heavy flash floods wiped out an entire village in Mai Mahiu. The homes downhill were washed away after a dam in Kijabe burst its banks following heavy rainfall on Sunday.
The Deputy Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross John Mbalu confirmed 49 people from 26 people missing with 109 people rescued and rushed to different hospitals within Naivasha.
According to a statement by the government’s spokesperson Dr.Isaac Mwaura, 75 people were injured following the incident.
The government pledged to clear all hospital bills for the victims and urged health workers to resume their duties amidst the flood crisis within the country.
“Yesterday, there was a sad incident of mudslide in Mai Mahiu area in Nakuru County. It is unfortunate that we lost 45 lives from the incident and 73 other Kenyans were injured and are being treated at different health facilities in the area,” read the statement in part.
“The government will cater for all their hospital bills and wishes them a quick recovery. The government appeals to doctors and other health workers to resume their services in order to assist their fellow citizens and not to prioritize financial interests during this emergency situation,” he further added.
The government’s spokesperson also noted that so far, 91 persons have been reported missing countrywide, and 30,214 households displaced as a result of floods.
Read More: “91 Missing, 30,214 Households Displaced,” Government’s Spokesperson
66 fatalities have been also reported in the last 24 hours, (4 adults in Tana River, 3 adults in the Eastern region, 4 adults and 3 children in Central Region, 47 adults and 1 child in Nakuru, Narok, and West Pokot counties, 2 adults and 2 children in Homa Bay County).
These cases raise the cumulative number of deaths to 169 since the onset of the ongoing March-April-May long rains.