“Anyone found crossing flooded bridges will be charged with attempted Suicide” CS Kithure Kindiki issues new directive

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki issued a new directive to all those crossing flooded bridges on Monday.

“Arrest and prosecute offenders for attempted suicide and/or attempted murder, as the facts of the case may be.” Kindiki said.

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This follows the events of Monday morning, when a dam in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, burst its banks, destroying houses and cars and killing over forty-two people.

The floodwaters originated from a nearby river that broke its banks after heavy rainfall, according to the Red Cross.

The interior minister directed counties to deploy enforcement teams at road spots prone to flooding and where water has breached the bridge to prevent motorists or pedestrians from dangerous crossings.

Below are some of the new guidelines the CS has shared to adhere to:

. To mitigate further loss of life, County Security and Intelligence Committees (CSICs) across the country are directed to immediately:

1) Inspect all public and private dams and water reservoirs in their jurisdictions within 24 hours, effective at 1400 hours today, and recommend cases where compulsory evacuation and temporary resettlement orders are to be issued.

2) Deploy enforcement teams at urban and rural road spots prone to storm water flooding and without bridges or where the water has breached the bridge to prevent motorists or pedestrians from dangerous crossovers and to arrest and prosecute offenders for attempted suicide and/or attempted murder, as the facts of the case may be.

3) Prevent the transportation of passengers across flooded rivers or storm water by unsafe canoes or boats and arrest inexperienced and unscrupulous persons taking advantage of the prevailing situation to cash in on persons in distress.

He lastly assured the public that the government is coordinating all its relevant agencies and partners to prevent further loss of lives and property and doing everything in its power to support all those who have been affected by the ongoing torrential rains.