During a press briefing dedicated to the crisis on Sunday, May 5th, the government announced that the human toll from weeks of devastating floods had reached 228 deaths, with 72 people reported missing and over 212,000 displaced.
Tropical Cyclone Hidaya, which swept across the Kenyan coast on Saturday, ultimately did not result in casualties after weakening upon reaching the shores of Tanzania on Saturday, May 4th.
However, Kenyan government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura stated that the cyclone caused strong winds and waves along the coast. He also warned of the risk of waterborne diseases, with a case of cholera reported along with instances of diarrhea.
Kenya remains vulnerable to torrential rains, posing the risk of further landslides and flooding.
The government has mandated that anyone living near major rivers or dams evacuate the area or face mandatory evacuation for their safety.
Jagan Chapagain, Director-General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, expressed serious concerns about the forecasted rains, raising the specter of a larger-scale humanitarian crisis.