One more body has been recovered at the kwa Muchira area of Mai Mahiu, bringing the death toll to 49 as the search for people who died in the Old Kijabe dam tragedy enters its second day.
Kenya Red Cross says 75 more people are still missing while another 110 are still admitted with different injuries among them fractures.
This is after the early Monday morning tragedy when stormwater built up in one of the valleys on the Kijabe Escarpment.
According to residents, the water was built up to a temporary dam of approximately 80 meters with a 70-metre depth and 300-metre length when a tunnel constructed to allow water passage was blocked.
The tunnel was constructed during pre-independence as the colonialists laud down the Kenya-Uganda railway.
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A local leader, Simon Karanja said the railway builders constructed a 70-metre fill-up using boulders and compacted soil in a valley to pave way for the rail line.
“Unfortunately, the fill-up soaked and gave way due to the large amount of water that had been building up over the past two weeks,” Karanja says.
On Tuesday, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua promised to offer material and financial support to the affected families.
Gachagua, who was accompanied by Transport and Public Works Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, and Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara, said the government has already distributed humanitarian aid to the families, which included food relief, clothing, and bedding.
He declared Ngeya Girls High School as the command center of the search and rescue team.
President William Ruto is expected to visit the area later today
