President Hichilema sends condolences to Kenya as 42 confirmed dead in Nairobi floods

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has conveyed condolences to the government and people of Kenya following deadly floods that have struck the capital, Nairobi, causing loss of life and damage to property.

Hichilema expressed deep sadness over the deaths and suffering caused by severe flooding that affected parts of Nairobi after heavy rainfall.

The message of condolence was delivered by Mulambo Haimbe, Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.

The message was conveyed on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting in the United Kingdom.

“The Government of the Republic of Zambia stands in solidarity with the Government and people of the Republic of Kenya during this difficult period and remains confident in the resilience of the Kenyan people as they respond to the disaster,” Hichilema said.

According to Reuters, the death toll from heavy rains and flooding in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya has nearly doubled to 42.

Intense rains on Friday triggered widespread flooding, causing some people to drown, washing away vehicles and disrupting traffic at the country’s largest airport.

The previous death toll stood at 23.

Emergency workers from various agencies, including the military, were continuing search and rescue operations across the country, said Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, Kenya’s Minister for Public Service and Human Capital Development.

“Search mission is still in progress by the multi agency emergency response teams with the aim of ensuring that bodies of all the flood victims are found and retrieved,” he said.

The floods have also caused extensive damage to infrastructure and livelihoods, although authorities said 172 vehicles swept away by flood waters had been recovered.

On Saturday, Kenyan President William Ruto said he had ordered relief food from the country’s national strategic reserves to be immediately released for distribution to families affected by the floods.

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