Over 700 people displaced in Mwea after the Thiba River outbreak

The outbreak of the Thiba River due to heavy rains has displaced over 700 people in the Mwea district of Kirinyaga County, Kenya. Hundreds of people from three communities have become homeless after the river outburst.

Flash floodwater has destroyed houses and crops in the massive irrigation network of Mwea. It has resulted in significant property damage.

Over 700 people displaced in Mwea after Thiba River bursts banks due to heavy rains

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Mwea is well-known for having the biggest irrigation system in Kenya over thousands of acres. Now the disastrous effects of flood have seriously damaged the region. Hence, the agricultural scheme mainly depends on the Thiba and Nyamindi rivers for irrigation water supply.

The residents of Mwea said this flooding is the worst they have experienced in the past thirty years. They are still processing the shock as over 700 people are displaced in Mwea.

A local Thiba resident, Dominic Murungi said they have never had flooding of this magnitude since the 1980s. There is nowhere to sleep or food, even for thousands of people.

Meanwhile, Kirinyaga County Commissioner, Hussein Allasow provided details on the Mwea crisis in the media conference. Hussein said he asked the National Irrigation Authority for help dehydrating the river and enlarging the canals, that feed to farmlands to help drain floodwaters.

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Furthermore, he instructed the residents of Mwea to move to higher grounds and take precautions to reduce further risks caused by continuous heavy rains.

Hussein stated it may continue to rain, so they asked people to remain cautious and not become anxious. He suggested locals move to higher grounds such as the area of Primary and Secondary Schools in Thiba.

The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) issued a heavy rain alert for several regions in Kenya on April 1st, 2024. It includes the Central Highlands, Rift Valley, Western Kenya, Northeast, Northwest, and the coastal regions. KMD alert stated to be ready for possible flooding in these areas.