Two more children have died as the ongoing rains pounding most parts of the country continue to take its toll.
A one-year-old boy drowned in a dam at Koisungur village, Irong Location in Keiyo District on Saturday evening.
The child, who was in the company of other two children, had wandered off the homestead and fell into Koisungur dam, which is barely ten metres from their house.
Ms Caren Kimeli, the child’s mother, said she left her children playing and went into the house but upon coming out found the boy missing.
“I sensed danger when I could not see the boy with other children. And my worst fears where confirmed when I saw his body floating on water,” said Kimeli.
“We retrieved the body and took it to Iten District Hospital mortuary. We urge residents to avoid leaving children unattended,” Joseph Biwott, Keiyo Administration Police commander said.
Elsewhere, a 12-year-old girl drowned after being swept away by raging water at Omosaria stream, in Kisii County.
The deceased, a Standard Four pupil at Rionsaria Primary School, was playing in the stream with friends when she was swept away.
Her friends raised alarm and villagers searched for her body that was retrieved two days later and 18 kilometres downstream.
Playing in rivers
Gucha OCPD Richard Ng’etich asked parents to warn their children not to play in rivers during this rainy season.
Still in Kisii, residents of Nyantira area are living in fear following a landslide that sunk houses and sections of their farms a year after a similar calamity befell them.
Some 150 affected families have been forced to relocate to safer grounds following the incident.
A four kilometre crack extending from the banks of River Omogonga uphill to Emanga Riamichina swallowing houses and farms on its course has left residents who had returned to the area abandon the locality again.
Kisii County Director of Environment Samson Bokea visited the site yesterday to assess the enormity of the landslide and called on residents to vacate the area.
Meanwhile, several buildings at Sang’alo Institute of Science and Technology in Bungoma County were destroyed over the weekend following strong winds and heavy rain.
Trees that fell in heavy rain destroyed the science laboratory and mechanical workshop.
Speaking to The Standard, principal Chrysantus Wanyonyi approximated the loss at Sh100 million.
Meanwhile, landslides that hit two sub-locations in the area have displaced more than 100 households in Gucha South District in Kisii County.
Government officials have asked the 117 affected families at Botabori and Kiagware area to move to safer ground as emergency aid is sought.
Area DC Geoffrey Mayama said several houses had developed cracks while others had tilted in the hillside villages.
“We have advised residents to move out and stay in higher areas where they will be safe. Any relief agencies are welcome to give humanitarian aid,” said Mr Mayama.
By Fred Kibor, The Standard
