Kenya - Floods, update (Kenya Red Cross, UN OCHA, International Charter, media, Kenya Meteorological Department) (ECHO Daily Flash of 2 May 2024)

Heavy rainfall continues to affect most of Kenya since the beginning of March (the long rainy season lasts from March to May), causing rivers overflow (particularly the Tana and the Mara rivers), floods, flash floods and triggering landslides that have resulted in additional casualties and severe damage.

The Kenya Red Cross reports, as of 1 May, 166 fatalities, 132 missing people, 23,511 displaced households (approximately 117,555 individuals) and 43,888 affected households (approximately 219,440 individuals).

On 29 April, the Old Kijabe dam, located in the Mai Mahiu area of the Great Rift Valley region, burst amid torrential rainfall. At least 50 casualties have been recorded but the death toll might increase. Rescue efforts are still ongoing.

Over the next 72 hours, more heavy rainfall with locally very heavy rainfall is still forecasted over most of the country, except eastern counties.