Mai Mahiu Man Swept Away by Floods at Night Recounts What Happened, how he Narrowly Escaped Death

 Families in Mai Mahiu are still coping with the tragic flooding that claimed the lives of at least 45 people, with many others still missing. Survivors are sharing their harrowing experiences from that fateful night as rescue teams work tirelessly to locate the missing individuals.

One survivor recounted the terrifying moments when floodwaters swept away their homes. He described how his wife first heard a loud noise, and before they could react, they were carried away by the water. The man, now injured, recalled waking up to find himself stranded naked on a tree that had been uprooted.

"We were sleeping with my wife and children. Suddenly, my wife woke up and heard a rumbling noise," he recounted. "As we tried to reach the door, water rushed in from behind the house. It felt like an explosion, and we were swept away. I ended up among the uprooted trees, naked," he shared.

The tragic event unfolded in the early hours of Monday, April 29, along the busy Nairobi-Naivasha Highway in the Mai-Mahiu area, where floodwaters engulfed several vehicles. Reports suggest that the Kijabe River overflowed, trapping both local residents and travelers on the highway.

Water Cabinet Secretary Zechariah Njeru attributed the disaster to a blocked railway line tunnel, which hindered the natural flow of water through River Tongi. Debris, stones, trees, and soil washed down by the heavy rain clogged the channel, preventing water from flowing downstream through River Tongi and its tributaries.