floods in Isiolo, One person dead as Ngaremara and Burat wards most affected

Heavy rains have pounded Isiolo town and the surroundings for two days consecutively, causing havoc and death. A twenty-three-year-old man is feared dead in the company of two others while they were trying to cross a river aboard a motorcycle. The two men were rescued by a villager the other man was swept downstream together with the motorcycle. Police said rescue operations to recover the body of a twenty-three-year-old man who was swept by floods yesterday were still ongoing by today noon. Residents of Shambani in Burat ward are yet to recover from the shock of the loss. They lamented over the state of the Shambani crossing point which is being rendered impassable as heavy rains continued to pound overnight for the second day consecutively in Isiolo. Isiolo sub-county OCPD has called for restraint and caution while people approach moving water while confirming yesterday's incident and the ongoing joint stakeholder operation to recover the body. Angelina Haipa and Ibrahim Ekuam both residents of Shambaini lamented over the lack of a proper bridge even after the government promised to construct a proper bridge at the location during one of President's William Ruto visits to Isiolo. Area Member of County Assembly Nicholas Lorot urged the national government to consider an urgent intervention and construct a bridge at the crossing point. Fifteen kilometers away from Shambani is Ngaremara center. Residents have been hard hit after flood waters infiltrated their shops and houses leaving them counting losses. Many shops were closed at the time of our visit. In one of the affected homesteads, we met Maria Goreti who said she has undergone over thirty thousand shillings in Losses. There were flood waters all over her compound and an elder at the home posed and watched in awe seated at the front of the house. Maria Goretti said she is taking care of an old man and a child who is disabled. She explained that she felt trapped by the rains and her circumstances. Isiolo deputy governor Dr. James Lowasa who visited the scene of the accident, said that the county government was prepared to help residents overcome the challenges, especially in case there is an occurrence of a disease outbreak.