•Residents Across the Entire County Grapple with Widespread Devastation
Isiolo, Kenya| A vehicle belonging to Oldonyiro Member of County Assembly (MCA) David Lemantile was swept away by raging flash floods on Friday night near the Isiolo Modern Abattoir, leaving two occupants missing and a third lucky to escape alive.
The wreckage of the car, which was en route to Isiolo town from Kipsing, has since been retrieved, but a frantic search continues for the missing individuals identified as the driver, Paul Gitonga, and Rajuel Lemantile(a kin of the MCA), according to police sources.
Boniface Muriungi, the third occupant, narrowly survived by escaping through the vehicle’s window as the floods overpowered the car while attempting to cross a submerged river.
Widespread Destruction Across Isiolo
The incident is just one part of a larger crisis unfolding in Isiolo County following hours of heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning on Friday evening.
Residents of Isiolo town have reported massive losses, with an unknown number of cows, goats, and sheep swept away by the floods. Shops and local stores haven’t been spared either.
Several homes in Isiolo town and its environs were also submerged, displacing families and destroying property.
Locals have blamed the devastation on the area’s poor drainage system, a long-standing issue that has repeatedly been raised by residents but remains unaddressed.
Below are images of the ill-fated vehicle belonging to Lemantile. Two of the vehicles occupants are still missing. One of them is believed to be a kin of the MCA.
Far-Flung Areas Hit Hard
The situation is equally dire in remote parts of Isiolo County, with reports indicating that the Ewaso Ng’iro River burst its banks in Merti Town, Cherab Ward, submerging nearby settlements and leaving hundreds homeless.
Affected families are yet to receive any aid from the Kenya Red Cross, the county government, or the national government, leaving them in desperate conditions.
There have been no official statements from county leaders regarding emergency response measures or plans to mitigate the crisis.
Calls for Urgent Intervention
As search and rescue efforts continue for the missing vehicle occupants, residents are calling for immediate intervention to address the flooding and provide relief to those affected.
The recurring nature of these floods has raised questions about the county’s disaster preparedness and infrastructure deficiencies, particularly the inadequate drainage systems that exacerbate flooding during heavy rains.
With no assistance yet reaching the hardest-hit areas, the plight of Isiolo’s residents remains precarious, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated disaster response and long-term solutions to prevent future tragedies.
Updates to follow as the situation develops.
Share This Post