Mai Mahiu Tragedy: Survivors Recount Events Before Dam Accident, Death Toll Reaches 45

• William Lokai said he was forced to unroof his house to rescue his two young children and brothers who had visited him
• The death toll has risen to 45 as rescue operations are ongoing, with severely injured survivors being hurried to Naivasha
• KeNHA advised motorists to use alternate routes as some roads in Mai Mahiu have been rendered impassable

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

As the nation extends its sympathy to the families affected by the floods in Mai Mahiu, survivors have shared harrowing accounts of the events leading up to the tragic incident.

Homes and vehicles were swept away by floods along the Nairobi-Naivasha road at Kamuchiri village on Monday, April 29, at 2am.

How did Mai Mahiu accident happen?

William Lokai, along with his two children and two brothers, are among the survivors who recounted the loss of all his belongings, including three motorbikes and all his neighbours, as Citizen TV reported.

"We heard the walls starting to collapse. When we woke up, the house had already been surrounded by water. We could not open the door. We had to find a way through the roof and that was when I got cut. I have lost everything including three motorbikes and all my neighbours," he narrated.

Lokai mentioned that he hasn't sought medical attention yet due to the overwhelming number of people injured in the accident. He noted that the hospital is prioritising children and those with severe injuries.

He and his family were fortunate to receive assistance from kind-hearted individuals who provided clothing.

"The waters lifted us and slammed us against the house walls, causing me chest and rib injuries. However, my brother was able to unroof the building and rescue the children. Several people were injured and as of now, some have rushed to Naivasha," added his brother, John Lokai.

Meanwhile, the death toll has risen to 45, with rescue operations still ongoing to locate missing individuals.

Due to the ongoing doctors' strike, some survivors have been urgently transported to Naivasha for medical care.

KeNHA advised motorists to find alternate routes due to the nighttime flash floods that have made some roads at Mai Mahiu impassable.

Mother and child killed by floods in Homa Bay

In Homa Bay, a mother and her child were among the three people killed by floods in Sindo town.

The two were en route to the town when the rushing floods caused by the heavy rain swept them on Sunday, April, 28.

The county boss Gladys Wanga said those who were seeking accommodation at Sindo and Nyaboma Primary Schools will be relocated.

What else you need to know about floods in Kenya

• Kenyan flood death toll hits 103 as the country continues to experience heavy rains
• Education ministry has postponed schools reopening as floods continue to wreak havoc in the country
• Flowers stored at the JKIA export zone were damaged as floods washed away the packages