Twenty-nine people have died in Kenya due to flooding, authorities said Thursday, as the country’s meteorological department warned that more heavy rains are expected.
The East African country is experiencing the second of its two annual rainy seasons, but the rainfall in October has been above average in most parts of Kenya, James Muhindi of the meteorological department told dpa.
He said that one area near the border with Ethiopia recorded more rain in the first 10 days of the month than it would usually see over the entire rainy season, which typically takes place between October and December.
Almost 12,000 people have been displaced due to flooding, which has particularly affected the north and east of Kenya, government spokesman Cyrus Oguna said in televised remarks. The floods have also dealt a blow to key sectors of the country’s economy, such as agriculture. Oguna said that 10,000 livestock animals have died in the flooding. The rains are expected to peak in November, according to the meteorological department.
In other news – EFF threatens to take to the streets after Mbalula tells public to pay e-tolls
The party says the people of Gauteng already pay for water, electricity and ever-increasing petrol prices. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng say they reject Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula’s call for people to pay e-tolls.
At a briefing on the state of aviation on Thursday after the grounding of planes earlier this week, Mbalula urged motorists to pay, saying this was needed to maintain road infrastructure. Read more
Source: IOL
