STORY: Floods kill 46 in Kenya
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 14, 2023
DATELINE: Nov. 16, 2023
LENGTH: 0:01:46
LOCATION: GARISSA, Kenya
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of flood in parts of Kenya
2. various of Kenyan Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki arriving in the flood-hit area
3. SOUNDBITE (English): KITHURE KINDIKI, Interior cabinet secretary
4. various of flood in parts of Kenya

STORYLINE:

At least 46 people have died and thousands of others were displaced as the intensity of El Nino rains increased in Kenya.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said that most of the deaths had been caused by flooding, as the government issued fresh flood alerts Tuesday.

SOUNDBITE (English): KITHURE KINDIKI, Interior cabinet secretary
"We have lost 46 people because of drowning, because of floods. We don't want any single Kenyan to lose their life. Take caution, evacuate when our officers tell you to evacuate from flooded areas, from areas prone to landslides in other parts of the country, comply. If you don't comply, we will force you to comply so that we can save your lives."

The worst affected areas are Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera counties in northern Kenya, Makueni and Kitui in eastern and Homa Bay and Kisumu in western Kenya.

The Kenyan government on Tuesday issued fresh alerts in three counties namely Garissa, Kitui, and Tana River.

The Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA) said the level of water in the two water bodies had risen significantly to over five meters high due to the ongoing heavy rains and warned of more flooding at any time.

"In light of these developments, we ask residents to remain vigilant and be prepared. It is crucial for communities to heed warnings issued by authorities and move to higher grounds for safety," TARDA managing director Liban Duba said in a statement.

The Kenya Meteorological Department has predicted that the rains would go on until January, pointing to more destruction if the intensity increases.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Garissa, Kenya.
(XHTV)