Six killed in Western Kenya floods

At least six people were killed in Western Kenya by raging floods in separate incidents following heavy rains that pounded the area on Monday night.Four women, who are believed to have gone to fetch firewood near Nandi escarpment, slipped and drowned in River Nyando following heavy downpour. A boy aged between seven and 10 also drowned.River Nyando, which draws its waters in Lake Victoria, has bursted its banks.“We are very upset seeing bodies flowing on the raging floods into Lake Victoria,” Johannes Onyango, a fisherman told Xinhua.By Tuesday midday, the bodies were still trapped at Kanyagwal beach, where river Nyando ends and connects Lake Victoria.The flash floods due to heavy rains pounding several parts of the East African nation have caused widespread destruction of property and infrastructure, as well as disruption of key activities such as farming and education.Several parts of the country, especially Western Kenya, have been affected by flooding following an increased heavy downpour countrywide.Nyando divisional police commander Elias Gitonga said he was not aware of the bodies swept away, but said he will immediately carry out investigations to ensure the bodies are retrieved and taken to mortuary for identification.“I appeal to the residents to report any information on the floating bodies in Lake Victoria and rivers,” he said.The heavy rains have displaced more than 300 families in the region. The disgruntled families have appealed to government and well-wishers to donate food, medicine and clothes as they have lost their household properties to floods.“My two children are bedridden with Malaria and pneumonia because of cold and mosquito bites. I appeal to any well-wisher to come to my rescue,” Maureen Okwanyo, 32, said in a school where she is currently camping after her house was submerged in water.In Busia County, a 57-year-old man who drowned in River Malakisi is yet to be found.The man identified as David Orotin had gone to a local trading center but slipped into the river following aheavy downpour that pounded the area.