Mai Mahiu Deaths: Conflicting Numbers Spark Truth Debate
Kenya is currently facing intense rainfall causing floods and overflow of water bodies, resulting in fatalities and property damage.
The latest disaster due to the heavy rain is the Mai Mahiu floods, which caused the deaths of several people and injured others.
The number of victims is not yet confirmed
Families are still waiting for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and organizations like the Kenya Red Cross to recover their relatives from the mud. The exact number of casualties from the April 29 incident is known to only a few.
There is uncertainty about the number of deaths because the government has been inconsistent in its reporting on the number of casualties from the disaster.
In a phone interview with Inooro FM a day after the incident, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stated that 71 bodies had been found.
“We have 46 bodies in the morgue, and more are being brought in, totaling about 71. Many others are still missing, and the search continues. We hope to find them alive. If not, then we accept that God cannot be questioned,” Gachagua said.
Governor Susan Kihika of Nakuru County confirmed Gachagua’s figures, telling CNN that 71 people had been confirmed dead. Mai Mahiu is in Nakuru County.
Despite these reports, the government under Deputy President Gachagua appears to have different views on the true number of casualties from the Mai Mahiu floods.
An Interior Ministry statement on Sunday, providing an update on the rain and floods, gave a different number than those mentioned by the Deputy President and the Governor.
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According to Prof. Kithure Kindiki’s ministry, “58 bodies have been found, with 41 identified and families notified.”
The ministry’s statement also noted that “151 KDF personnel are actively involved in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, following the mudslide disaster. Mai Mahiu-Narok Road is now clear for traffic, and Kenya Railways is inspecting the railway line in Kijabe.”
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura added to the confusion by announcing in a press briefing on Sunday that the death toll stood at 52, with 52 others injured and 51 people missing.
“The mudslide in Mai Mahiu has resulted in 52 deaths, 52 injuries, and 51 people still missing,” Mwaura said.
The varying figures provided by the government create uncertainty regarding the severity of the Mai Mahiu tragedy and raise questions about the reliability of official data on the ongoing heavy rains in the country.
Flood management and safety measures
The government reports that a national assessment of all dams has been completed, identifying 192 high-risk dams across various regions: Central (60), Eastern (39), Rift Valley (29), Coast (22), Western (21), Nairobi (12), North Eastern (5), and Nyanza (4).
Residents within 30 meters of rivers and watercourses across the country have been ordered to evacuate immediately for their safety.
Mandatory evacuations along rivers in Nairobi County (Mathare, Ngong, and Nairobi Rivers) are ongoing, with the government providing logistical support, temporary shelter, and essential supplies to those affected.
Additionally, the Ministry of Interior reports that a search operation is in progress in Maroro, Tana River County, where 13 people are still missing after a boat capsized last Sunday. Seven bodies have been recovered, and 23 people have been rescued from the incident involving a boat with 40 people aboard.
Mai Mahiu Deaths: Conflicting Numbers Spark Truth Debate