Death toll from El Nino rains above 170

By Peter Ochieng

Over 170 people died as a result of floods caused by El Nino rains, experienced in most parts of the country from October, 2023.

According to the National El Nino Emergency and Disaster Response Command Centre, 174 people have lost their lives since October.

The command centre in a statement released on Friday said the death toll comprises of 133 adults and 41 children.

6,706 animals mainly goats and sheep were also swept away by the floods, with over 85,000 acres of agricultural land being affected.

"The agricultural sector has also been severely impacted with crop devastation affecting around 84,568 acres," the statement states, in part.

Loses in the agricultural sector, according to government estimates amount to Sh16.26 billion.

At the peak of the rains, the government opened 170 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the country, to cater for people whose houses were either swept away or marooned by floods.

A week ago, government spokesman Isaac Mwaura stated that the number of camps had notably decreased from 170 to 95.

"Presently, 67,255 individuals remain displaced a reduction from the previous count of 545,515. We expect further reductions in both the number of camps and displaced persons, particularly as camps hosted in schools are being vacated," he said.

Meru, Isiolo, Turkana, Mombasa, Busia, Lamu, Tana River, Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, Homabay and Kitui were among the worst hit counties with El Nino rains.

The last time Kenya experienced El Nino rains was in 2006.

However, the 2023 scenario has been compared to 1997, when the country witnessed the worst El Nino situation.