Weeks of rains and floods have caused a trail of destruction across Kenya and cost almost 260 lives, prompting the government to order the evacuation of everyone living in risk-prone areas.
"Forcibly or voluntarily," was the blunt phrase used by government spokesman Isaac Mwaura at the weekend.
Almost 55,000 households have been displaced, according to the latest government figures, as the deluge swamped homes, roads and bridges in nearly every corner of the country.
"They have demolished our houses without giving us an alternative place to go," said 50-year-old Masai as the bulldozer moved through her neighbourhood of Mukuru on Wednesday.
- 'Wrong to kick us out' -
Crowds of people watched as the excavator smashed through the corrugated iron sheets, wooden poles and bricks that once provided shelter to the inhabitants of one of Nairobi's largest slums.
"All these people have been displaced, they should have relocated us before the demolitions," Masai said, as people scavenged through the detritus of their homes on the banks of the swollen river.
"They came abruptly with the bulldozers, affecting women and children, where are we supposed to go?
"We have lived here for more than 30 years without being swept by floods," Masai said angrily. "The government is wrong (about) kicking us out, we were very okay."
President William Ruto has insisted the government would relocate all Kenyans living in riparian areas "for their safety".
"We can protect them in a different place," he said during a visit on Monday to Nairobi's Mathare slum, where many homes were engulfed by the floodwaters.
"There will be enough food for them, there will be blankets, there will be mattresses and we are going to look after their children."
Ruto announced that each displaced household would be given a sum of 10,000 Kenyan shillings (about $75) to tide them over until a more permanent solution was found.
But in Mukuru, 20-year-old Sheila Mbone said she had been given no information about where she would be rehoused.
"The government is demolishing our homes without telling us where we are being relocated. What are we meant to do as the victims?"
DR Congo faces 'catastrophe' from floods: UN
Kinshasa (AFP) May 8, 2024 - Eastern DR Congo faces a "humanitarian catastrophe" after being hit by severe flooding affecting about half a million people, the UN World Food Programme said Wednesday.
"Heavier rainfall than usual during the rainy season, prompted by climate change, has forced rivers and lakes to overflow, swallowing towns, villages and roads on the shores," the WFP said in a report citing "chaos" in South Kivu and Tanganyika provinces.
Worst-affected are Haut-Lomami and Tanganyika provinces, which border the lake of the same name as well as neighbouring Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia.
"All around Lake Tanganyika, and areas upstream of the Congo River basin, people have lost their homes, their fields and livelihoods," the WFP reported, estimating 471,000 people were affected with 451,000 hectares (1.1 million acres) flooded, including 21,000 hectares of cropland.
"People in flooded areas need food, shelter, clean drinking water, health and sanitation support, as well as support to restart their livelihoods.
"However, WFP has very limited resources to respond to the flooding crisis due to current funding levels and the food assistance pipeline situation."
The UN body voiced concern at the effect on health service provisions as sickness hit affected areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
"With towns and villages swallowed in the lakes and rivers, diseases are rife. Latrines have overflowed into the water that surrounds people's homes and sanitation is poor.
"People are forced to wade through and wash their clothes and cooking implements in cholera-riddled water," said the report, warning of "a whole host of animal-borne diseases."
Locals were reporting seeing hippos, crocodiles and snakes in flooded inhabited areas, risking fatal attacks, especially on children and livestock.
Amid lost harvests, "people are struggling to feed their families which is leading to more people arriving in health care facilities with symptoms related to months of poor food intake. Especially children are at risk of developing malnutrition."
Flooding has hit vast swathes of Africa in recent weeks, which have notably claimed 257 lives in Kenya, according to a latest toll Wednesday.
Flood-hit Kenya pays tribute to victims of dam burst
Mai Mahiu, Kenya (AFP) May 9, 2024 -
Thousands of people paid tribute Thursday to the 61 people killed last month when a makeshift dam ruptured in central Kenya, following heavy rains that have plunged the country into turmoil.
The tragedy near the Rift Valley town of Mai Mahiu was the deadliest single incident during a particularly brutal rainy season that has claimed 257 lives and displaced almost 55,000 households since March in the East African nation.
The disaster struck before dawn on April 29, when torrential downpours burst the dam, sending torrents of water and mud gushing down a hill.
The deluge cut off a road and washed away homes, devastating the village of Kamuchiri and killing 61, according to local MP Jane Kihara.
Thousands of people -- victims' relatives, residents as well as political leaders -- gathered to honour the dead in Mai Mahiu, a few kilometres from the scene of the tragedy.
Under a large tent, dozens of portraits of victims, including many children, were exhibited in front of flowers and candles, an AFP journalist at the scene said.
An emotional crowd listened to speeches by religious and political leaders, including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who read a message from President William Ruto.
"In these difficult times, we stand in solidarity with those who have been affected by the disaster," he said.
The government warned on Wednesday that heavy rains were expected in 31 of Kenya's 47 counties.
Water levels of Lake Victoria -- the largest in Africa -- and Lake Baringo are expected to continue to rise, raising the threat of further flooding.
The authorities have also warned that all five dams comprising the Seven Forks hydropower project pose "an increased risk of flooding" in the counties of Garissa, Tana River and Lamu located downstream.
A total of 192 dams have been identified as "high risk" and populations living near 178 of them have been evacuated, according to the government.
The rains have also battered the rest of East Africa, compounded by the El Nino weather pattern.
At least 475 people have died in Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Somalia, according to government data and figures from the UN humanitarian agency OCHA compiled by AFP.
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