12 Tuesday, April 21, 2020 www.pd.co.ke // www.epaper.peopledaily.co.ke NO.07048 .HQ\D·V )5((1HZVSDSHU Marakwet mudslide death toll rises to 12 Page 2 Interior minister Fred Matiang’i says 400 families Security officers and rescue workers carry to safety one of the were left homeless, asks residents in flood-prone victims of the Chesogon mudslide tragedy. The Saturday night areas to move to higher grounds as Meteorological downpour caused massive destruction in villages along the department warns of more rains expected. West Pokot-Elgeyo Marakwet border. PD/JIMMY GITAKA Red alert: Health CS Kagwe blames reckless behaviour, especially Corona now by the middle class, for spread of deadly virus from Nairobi to capital’s peri-urban and hits villages rural areas as country’s infections rise to 281 after 11 new cases were reported yesterday PAGES 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 & 13 Mandera 281 confirmed cases 69 recovered 14 deaths 11 new cases, Uasin Gishu 5 females, Kakamega Laikipia 6 males Vihiga Siaya Nyandarua Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe (fourth right) with his PS Susan Mochache (third right) inspects Nakuru Nyeri Homabay Nyamira bed and other equipment for special isolation facility for health workers at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Kisii Murang’a Nairobi, yesterday. The equipment was donated by Rockefeller Foundation and Amref. PD/JOHN OCHIENG Kiambu Nairobi Kitui 13,872 Machakos Samples tested News Beat PG 5 Makueni Kajiado Why Mombasa is new virus Kilifi Mombasa hot spot Kwale 2 NEWS BEAT PEOPLE DAILY / Tuesday, April 21, 2020 WEATHER TODAY /&84#&"51"(& 803-%/&841"(& Nairobi 23° Nyeri 22° +PIP 4IBICBMBMMJBODF #SFYJUUBMLTSFTVNFVOEFS Mombasa 31° Kitui 27° TQBSLTTVDDFTTJPOUBML DPSPOBWJSVTDMPVE Kisumu 26° Wajir 33° 0HWERVV VD\VKHDY\ 0XGVOLGHGHDWKV UDLQIDOOWR ODVWORQJHU ULVHWRDVHLJKW by George Kebaso @Morarak ERGLHVUHWULHYHG The ongoing heavy rains State distributes foodstuff to (KMD)has warned that ongoing heavy will continue pounding most rains will increase and could extend to May. parts of the country, the Me- flood victims in Chesogon, Some of the areas cited as prone to risk are teorological Department has with Matiang’i asking Murang’a, Taita Taveta, Elgeyo Marakwet, projected. West Pokot, Nyando in Kisumu, Garissa and The department warned Kenyans in high-risk areas parts of Kitui county (see separate story). Kenyans living in mudslide- to move to safer grounds “We can tell clearly that we are going to prone areas to move to safer have challenges of flooding in some parts of grounds. the country and we have been warned. Let us Director Stella Aura said by Irene Githinji listen to what we are being told. When we can Western, Central, Nairobi and Winstone Chiseremi see an impending danger, it is our responsi- and Coast regions will receive @PeopleDailyKe bility as to advise our people appropriately rain of more than 30mm in 24 and we have done this,” said Matiang’i. hours. The death toll from the mudslide that oc- He said the government does not want to In the latest weather re- curred at the border of West Pokot and Elgeyo use force to move defiant residents, adding Cabinet Secretaries Fred Matiang’i (Interior) and Keriako Tobiko port issued last evening, Marakwet counties rose to 12 yesterday after that advisories to move have already been is- (Environment) during a briefing on disaster preparedness at the Kenya Aura said counties expect- eight more bodies were retrieved in Che- sued in high-risk areas. Metrological Department offices in Nairobi, yesterday. PD/ KENNA CLAUDE ing heavy rainfall include sogon. “Let us all take responsibility, it’s our lives Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, One of the recovered bodies was that of a not about Government. We are working joint- days, those living on the lower parts of Ga- Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Trans policeman who went missing after the trag- ly to see how we can assist and support our TRAGEDY rissa and Tana River may experience flood- Nzoia, Baringo, Uasin Gishu, edy. people move to safer and higher grounds... The Saturday ing and are hence advised to move to safer Elgeyo-Marakwet, Nandi, Lai- At the same time, a student from Moi Uni- the message we have is please heed the warn- mudslide swept away grounds. kipia, Nakuru, Narok, Kericho, versity was rescued and airlifted to the Moi ing, move to higher ground. Condolences to households and a “There is an overflow of about 300 cubic Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in El- Kenyans from families that lost their loved police post, leaving metres per second in all the dams,” he said. Bungoma and Busia, doret. More than 20 people had been report- one, including two police officers.” over 4,000 residents Wamalwa said the government has already However, Aura said rainfall ed missing following the Saturday mudslide homeless. sent relief food and non-food items to sup- amounts may reduce as the that swept away households and a police Dams spillage port those affected by mudslides in Elgeyo 12 people died, forecast period progresses. post, leaving over 4,000 residents homeless. Matiang’i spoke at the Meteorological among them a po- Marakwet. “In the Lake Victoria Basin, Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna, Department headquarters in Nairobi as he liceman. They were Chesogon market, opened last year to en- morning rains are likely to oc- said in a statement the government had dis- dismissed proposals to have the government among the over 20 hance peace among the warring Pokot and cur over a few places in that patched assorted foodstuff for distribution to buy off flood-prone areas and move residents. people reported Marakwet communities, and Chesogon po- area tomorrow and Thursday, flood victims, adding that five police officers “Tragedies should not lead us to making missing following the lice post were washed away. while the rest of the mornings and two civilians had been airlifted to MTRH, drastic decisions. We want to use our resourc- tragedy caused by The government, in conjunction with are likely to be sunny, paving while 13 people were treated and discharged. es well as we are also fighting the coronavirus heavy rains. humanitarian organisations, including the way for afternoon showers Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i disease,” said the CS. Kenya Red Cross Society, yesterday started and thunderstorms,” she yesterday said nearly 400 households have Matiang’i was accompanied by his coun- Those living on distributing food and non-food items to the lower parts of added. been affected by the flash floods caused by terparts Charles Keter (Energy), Keriako To- Garissa and Tana hundreds of displaced families in Chesogon. heavy rains. He appealed to Kenyans living biko (Environment) and Eugene Wamalwa River have been The exercise is coordinated by Elgeyo Be on lookout in mudslide-prone areas to move to safer (Devolution) as well as KMD director Stella advised to move to Marakwet County Commissioner Ahmed Aura urged residents in ar- grounds as the weather department has fore- Aura. Keter said the Eastern hydros are cur- safer grounds after Omar and his West Pokot counterpart Apollo eas affected by heavy rains to cast enhanced rainfall in coming days. rently full and there is already spillage from Masinga Dam started Okello in partnership with the county gov- be on the lookout for potential The Kenya Meteorological Department Masinga Dam, adding that in the next two spilling over. ernments officials. flash floods. Omar said the displaced families at pri- “Residents are advised to Matiang’i said mary schools along Kerio Valley, will be given government may be avoid driving through, walk- forced to use force to blankets, tents, mosquito nets, bar soaps and ing in moving water or open move those in high- food items. fields or sheltering under trees risk areas. Omar warned that those who will defy the and near grilled windows to government order to move will be compelled minimise exposure to light- to use chiefs and assistant chiefs to evacuate ning strikes,” she said. them by force as part of measures to avert Aura said the heavy rains, more loss of lives and property. large waves and strong winds Okello regretted that some areas had been offshore may result in storm cut off, making it had for them to deliver food surges along the Coast, and help displaced families. advised fishermen and other Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George people in the marine industry Natembeya toured the area yesterday and to be on high alert. said a command centre had been set up at She said those in landslide- Sambalat primary and Cheptulel Secondary prone areas, especially over schools in the two counties to coordinate res- the slopes of the Aberdares cue and relief mission. Ranges, Mount Kenya and Elsewhere,Narok and Melili residents are other hilly areas over the West- Residents of Chesogon and security officers at an area where a mudslide killed 12 people living in fear after two bridges were swept by ern region, should be vigilant. and left thousands homeless. PD/JIMMY GITAKA flash floods in on Sunday. Tuesday, April 21, 2020 / PEOPLE DAILY #WHACKYWORLD 3 with Julio Kiths @PeopleDailyKE The ugly, nasty among Kenya’s crime busters GSU officer busted demanding Being a law enforcement officer is more than bribe from fellow policeman just a job;it’s an honourable career anchored on It seems as the coronavirus tightens grip on every Kenyan, the motto: Utumishi Kwa Wote. And while there the good, the bad and the worse of our law enforcers is coming out. Imagine the whacky scenario of the right-hand demanding are many upright men and women living true to bribe from the left hand! their calling, the few bad apples among them are But that’s exactly what happened recently in Ruiru, when a police constable identified as Charles Mbugua was arrested by tainting and disgracing the service police officers while…not aiding an injured motorist or a driver whose car had stalled on the road, but….