Two missing as floods wreck havoc in Isiolo

Two people went missing on Friday when a car was swept off a bridge as floods left a trail of destruction in the town and its environs.

According to the Isiolo Police assessment report, a Land Cruiser vehicle belonging to Oldonyiro Ward Member of County Assembly, David Lemantile, was swept off at KMC Bridge, about 2km southwest of Isiolo town at around 110 p.m. on Friday.

The Occurrence Report indicated the driver, identified as Paul Gitonga, escaped unhurt after jumping through the car's window while two passengers were swept downstream. 

"The vehicle was recovered about 2km from the bridge on Saturday at around 7 am while badly damaged," the report read in part.

Police identified the missing duo as Boniface Muriungi, 22 and Rajuel Lemantile, who is a kin of the MCA.

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  Floods wreak havoc in Isiolo- Photos

The MCA, who is also a deputy Speaker of the Assembly, said his car was heading to Isiolo town from Kipsing when the incident occurred. 

The report said several business people are left counting losses, and homes in estates like Safi, Kulamawe, Bulle and Odha were affected, with hundreds of families left homeless. 

At the Safi estate, Hassan Ibrahim said his family fled their house after it was submerged by water. He lives near a blocked water path that separates the town from the estate.

"My family of seven managed to escape to the Kiwanjani estate, who are now hosted by my younger brother. All my household goods have either been damaged or swept away,"

Lucia Manyaria, an elderly woman with disability, said she escaped death by a whisker were it not for her children who came to her rescue. 

"The rain started slowly, but it turned worse by around 8 pm and poured heavily till mid-morning. I was carried by my children, who transferred me to bed. Everything submerged d my clothes is wet," she said. 

Lucy Karimi, a resident of Soko Mjinga, whose salon items were damaged after her outlet was flooded, blamed flooding in the densely populated Kulamawe estate on shoddy work done by contractors on road bridges and culverts. 

Traders in Soko Mjinga were also left reeling from losses occasioned by the floods that destroyed their goods of unknown value. 

"My shop was, there are customers who had their orders, and I don't know how I will help the situation. All the goods have been damaged. I'm stranded," lamented animal feed shop owner Winnie Munjuri, whose items were badly damaged by the ravaging floods. 

Another victim, Mary Njeri, said the area has never witnessed such massive destruction by floods in a long time.

"I've lived here for 40 years, but the destruction yesterday (Friday) has never been witnessed here. Everything was swept. Shops were submerged. The destruction is unbelievable," she said.  

Abdirashid Giresa, a broker at the market, said nearly 3,000 sheep and goats are meant for sale tomorrow (Monday).

During a tour of affected areas by the County disaster team, County Secretary Dade Boru said hundreds of families had been affected by the flash floods in Isiolo Central.

The residents asked the government to intervene and help them recover from the losses. 

"The roads have been destroyed. We can't access anything. We are asking the government to come to our rescue. We are hungry," she appealed. 

Soko Mjinga manager, Stephen Mwiti, took issue with the government over abandoning the bridge, with several requests to build it going unanswered.

"We have been discriminated against. We are asking the county government to try and treat US like other places. We have not seen anybody come visit us,' he said.

"All the culverts and bridges in the estates were done poorly and were always blocked. After it rains, our homes and business premises are left submerged in water," decried Stephen Mwiti, an estate manager in Kulamawe. 

"People need medicine.. We are asking for emergency response from the government so that people can be helped," he added. 

At Maisha Bora, local livestock traders said hundreds of sheep and goats were swept away by floods. The area hosts the local livestock market. 

Mr Dade said a multi-sectoral team comprising the county and national governments through the National Drought Management Authority and Kenya Red Cross Society's local branch are assessing affected areas to assist the affected families.

"Many businesses and homes have been affected. We will assist those in need of humanitarian relief and address how to control flooding within the municipality."

The official noted that illegal encroachment on water paths had mainly contributed to the flooding in the town.

"Those who erected businesses and homes on waterways had contributed to the problem, and we are going to demolish all the illegal structures," said Dade.

By the time of going to the press, an aerial search for the two missing persons was ongoing. The helicopter was provided by Northern Rangeland Trust, a wildlife conservation organisation in Northern Kenya, after a request from the county government.