The Kenya Red Cross Society has revealed that 61 people have died so far in the ongoing El Nino rains that began in October, and 235 have been injured.

Further, eight people are reported missing, and 80,518 households are affected, with nearly half of this amount displaced.

Among those reported as missing are two KRA employees whose vehicle was swept away in Lunga Lunga, Kwale County, as they traveled to Mombasa.

 Businesses, health facilities, and schools have also been affected as the rains pound parts of the country.

At the same time, the government says the El Nio rains are now affecting 33 counties, up from the initial 19.

 Northern Kenya continues to take the worst hits of the rains. In Wajir, entire towns have been submerged, schools, health facilities, and police stations have been rendered inhospitable and lives endangered by rain-triggered landslides.

To mitigate against further loss, both of lives and property, the county and national government are asking residents to heed warnings and vacate the danger zones.

The national government, through the deputy president's office, continues to call on proactive measures to be undertaken including unclogging of waterways, moving to higher ground, and the release of funds by counties to aid in mitigating the El Nino impact.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says the national government is working to deploy helicopters to rescue those stranded and coordinate aid to those in need of humanitarian help.