Residents residing near Masinga and Kiambere dams have been asked to vacate with immediate effect.
This is after water levels in the two dams reached a historic high on Tuesday morning.
The rise in the water levels is due to the heavy rains which have continued to pound various parts of the country.
It is anticipated that the flooding situation in Garissa and Tana River counties is likely to worsen after the water levels in the dams continue to rise.
Masinga down straddles the border of Machakos and Embu counties while Kiambere is along the border of Embu and Kitui counties.
The overflow of the two dams will mean that the situation in parts of Tana River County, already experiencing flooding, will get worse.
“Masinga dam this morning recorded its highest levels ever surpassing those recorded May 7, 2020,” a Cabinet dispatch stated.
“Kiambere Dam has also recorded its highest levels ever on April 26, 2024, surpassing the previous historic levels on November 29, 1997,” the dispatch stated.
As of Tuesday, large pieces of land had been submerged along River Tana with thousands of people displaced.
Tens of lives and livelihoods have been affected after the River broke its banks.
With Masinga and Kiambere dams at their record high, the government now wants residents living near them to vacate.
“The residents of the two counties and others living near other dams and water reservoirs must move out in line with the directive of the Cabinet,” the dispatch stated.
The directive by the State comes after 48 people lost their lives in Mai Mahiu, Naivasha after a gulley broke its banks Monday dawn.
Hundreds of families were displaced with their homes destroyed in a massive landslide that paralyzed transport activities.
President William Ruto on Tuesday ordered Kenyans to vacate riparian lands saying the affected Kenyans have 48 hours to heed the directive.
“Kila sehemu ambapo wananchi wako na iko hatari ya kutokea maporomoko ama mafuriko, hawa wananchi tutawauliza wahame na tutawasaidie kuhamisha ili tuweze kuokoa maisha ya wananchi,” he said.
This is loosely translated to, “We will be asking those who are living in areas that are at high risk of mudslides and floods to vacate and we will help them because we want to save their lives,” Ruto said.
The President was speaking in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County where he had gone to console with those affected by the mudslides.
The Head of State said the government will assist with the process and provide temporary shelter to those affected by the directive in the event that they require assistance.
