Flash Floods in Kenya Have Displaced 200,000 People
Some Kenyans are literally swimming in their homes due to severe flooding in areas of the country.
The Red Cross in Kenya has estimated that recent floods in various counties and regions of the country have left around 200,000 people homeless.
Heavy rainfall has plagued the area since last week, and is expected to continue and cause more people to flee their homes. The Red Cross has asked people in the area to evacuate immediately, as the situation may worsen—two damns in particular, Masinga and Kamburu, are at risk of overflowing.
There have also been mudslides in the area, causing roads to completely shut down. Many residents have had to be rescued from their homes after being trapped on rooftops.
According to BBC Africa. the flooding in Western Kenya has caused President Uhuru Kenyatta to cancel his visit to the area, where he was due to attend a conference.
The Daily Nation reports, that up to 20 people have died due to weather conditions since the beginning of the rainy season.
Several people have shared images and video footage of the flooding on social media. In some areas like Garissa, the flooding has reached shoulder level and has totally submerged the roads.
Other areas such as Moru Town, have also been severely impacted.
One man can be seen swimming inside of his living room:
Many Kenyans are using the opportunity to address Nairobi's drainage problems—an ongoing infrastructural issue that has left so many at risk.