A family in Samburu county is dealing with the pain of not knowing the whereabouts of their loved ones who went missing on Monday night after the vehicle they were travelling in was swept away by floods at Lengusuka River in Samburu East.
Kennedy Lesowapir, a relative to the two said, that they are not giving up until they find them, even if it’s their bodies.
Area MCA Lucas Lekwale said residents have since 2003 been complaining that the river has claimed many lives. He asked the national government to build a better bridge along the river to prevent future disasters.
A resident of the area, Etes Amu, who has lost six relatives after they drowned in the river, reiterated the MCA’s remarks saying that a bridge needed to be built urgently.
Samburu Administration Police Commander John Karanja, who is leading the search team, now says that they are having a difficult time finding the bodies because of siltation in the river.
“The bodies may be buried under silt that is washed into the river by flood waters,” said Karanja.
Further reports indicated that the wreckage of the vehicle that was swept downstream has been spotted.
The driver survived the accident with minor injuries after he managed to jump out of the car.He is currently receiving treatment at Wamba Mission Hospital.
Three days ago, over 300 families at Ombaka village in Ahero were displaced after a heavy downpour resulted in floods. The flash floods which occurred on Tuesday night forced residents to abandon their homes in the middle of the night and camp at a local school.
What do you think should be done to ensure that rains in Kenya do not result in death or loss of lives?