Kenyans in Flood Prone Areas Told to Leave or Face Forcible Eviction

Nairobi: Rain-swollen water levels at two Kenyan hydroelectric dams are at “historic highs” and people downstream should move away, Cabinet said Tuesday and ordered residents of flood-prone areas across country to evacuate or y'll be moved by force.

Kenya, along with or parts of East Africa, has been overwhelmed by flooding that killed 66 people on Monday alone and in recent days has blocked a national highway, swamped main airport and swept a bus off a bridge.

More than 150,000 people are displaced and living in dozens of camps.

With seasonal rains forecast to increase, Cabinet said residents of areas with flooding or landslides in past, and residents near dams and rivers considered at high risk, will be told by Wednesday to evacuate. Those who don't will be moved by force.

It was not clear how many people would have to move, or how notifications and evacuations would be carried out on short notice, especially in crowded informal neighbourhoods.

“We will assist you all and ensure we resettle you in an area that government has identified,” said President William Ruto during a visit to Mai Mahiu area an hours's drive west of Nairobi, where a river broke through a blocked tunnel early Monday and killed at least 48 people.

As bodies were pulled from under fallen trees, re was frustration with authorities. “That tunnel started blocking on Wednesday and local government knew about it," said resident Sam Njoroge, who said relatives were killed.

"So according to me, government was negligent because if y acted fast y would unblock tunnel and all se deaths would not have happened.”

On Kenya's longest river, Tana, to east, water levels at Masinga and Kiambere hydroelectric dams have reached historic highs, Cabinet said.

On Sunday, flooding on Tana capsized a boat and seven people died, with anor 13 reported missing. Earlier this month, high waters on Tana swept a bus from a bridge. All 51 passengers were rescued.

Flooding in East Africa also has killed more than 150 people in neighbouring Tanzania and Somalia and affected hundreds of thousands in Ethiopia and Burundi.