A spike in disease outbreaks such as Malaria, Cholera, and diarrhea has been reported in counties affected by the ongoing El Nino rains.
While issuing a weekly briefing about the effects of the ongoing rains yesterday, government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura stated Garissa, Kwale, Mandera and Wajir counties recorded a total of 391 cases of diarrhea while Lamu County reported 94 cases of cholera.
“Increased cases of Malaria have been reported in Mandera County; ten of which have been confirmed while 539 others remain suspected as the ministry of health continues to monitor the situation.” Mwaura stated.
He announced that the county has purchased a total of 120,000 nets in a bid to stop the rising cases of Malaria whereby the distribution is meant to start today.
Mwaura added that the government distributed food in Mombasa, Kwale, Lamu, Tana River, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Busia, Kitui, and Samburu Counties as part of the emergency response efforts by the government.
The spokesperson said the government is also stockpiling food and non-food items in Tana River, Garissa, Mandera, and Wajir counties which are the most hit hard by the floods.
He announced that the government will release Sh 625.8 million under the hunger and net safety funds to help half a million people in Turkana, Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, Samburu, Tana River, Garissa, and Isiolo.
“Displacement camps have been placed up across North-Eastern and Coastal regions with Mandera having 11, Wajir 16 and Tana River 35 camps. Six camps have also been established in Kilifi, Makueni, and Taita Taveta.” He said.
Residents living near the dam areas have been advised to move to safer grounds even though the level of water has been announced to have dropped by one per cent.
Mwaura said a heavy downpour is expected to continue in the coming day, especially in the southern parts of the country.
As per now, nearly half a million Kenyans in 92,432 households have so far been affected by floods from the El Nino rains.
The number of those killed by floods remains at 120, with no recent cases reported in the last
