Nairobi — Twenty-one people have so far been confirmed dead while 30,000 need urgent humanitarian assistance as floods continued to ravage parts of the country.

The Kenya Red Cross on Tuesday called for help on behalf of families flooded out of their homes and in danger of waterborne disease.

More than 70,000 people countrywide are at risk as they are said to reside in areas earmarked to suffer heavy rains.

Heavy El Nino storms were forecast back in September last year but weather experts appeared to change their predictions as the rains appeared to peter out in November. But December was wet and so is January, normally a dry month.

The Meteorological Department expects the heavy rains to continue for the rest of the month, which could spell disaster for communities already hit by four years of drought and floods from the so-called off-season rains.

The Red Cross estimates that some 3.8 million people affected by drought need help and their situation will be made a lot worse by heavy rains and storms.

The rains are a mixed blessing: the prolonged drought dried up rivers, water levels in dams plummeted, resulting in power and water rationing.

Late last year, the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, which supplies the city with water, said that the water in Ndakaini Dam would last until On Tuesday, Red Cross sent blankets, soap, and kitchen items as urgent aid to 6,000 families in South and North Rift affected by the floods.

Mr Abbas Gullet, the Red Cross boss, said urgent action was needed before the rains caused more havoc.

"We must be prepared to tackle any disaster that occurs," said Mr Gullet.

He called for donations to help his charity care for those in need.

Flooding, especially in poor hygiene conditions such as in camps for the homeless, exposes people to malaria and diseases such as cholera, which are transmitted through dirty water.

The worst affected communities, the Red Cross, are the same vulnerable ones that were worst hit by the drought.

"We are not certain the extent of the damage that is likely to be caused but we anticipate to manage the situation better with more supplies," said Mr Gullet.

According to a Red Cross analysis titled 'Floods in Kenya 2009/2010 Action and Appeal,' Turkana East and Rarieda reported the highest number of deaths of five people each while four died in Nairobi and three in Kajiado North.

Narok, Rachuonyo, East Pokot and Mogotio also registered one death each, although there could be more unreported deaths in more remote parts. In total, according to the Red Cross, 60,000 people are affected by the floods and 30,000 are in need of emergency aid.

The Government at the same time pledged to help victims of floods that have hit various parts of the country.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Internal Security minister George Saitoti also defended the Government's disaster preparedness scorecard and hastened to reassure wananchi that it was in control of the situation.

Prof Saitoti was addressing a press briefing at the Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner's office before touring Turkana District to assess the flood situation there. Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka was also in Mogotio on a similar tour.

Answering journalists questions, Prof Saitoti said the Government was well prepared to handle the crisis.

"We are well prepared...we have done the best we can most certainly. We plan to take food and medicine to the victims and rebuild damaged bridges and roads," Prof Saitoti said.

The tragedy

Turkana District is literally at the centre of a storm and has borne the brunt of the tragedy. Scores of people have died in Rift Valley Province, most of them in Turkana, and thousands others displaced.

Thousands of livestock have also been washed away by the floods.

Victims have expressed hope for a reprieve even as the Meteorological Department says the country is yet to see the last of the rains. Prof Saitoti said Turkana District had been worst affected.

Accompanied by Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia and Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner Osman Warfa, Prof Saitoti said that 18 deaths have been confirmed in the province and close to 3,000 livestock washed away by the raging floods.

He added that 17 bridges have been washed away and 29 roads damaged.

Mr Musyoka toured Rongai and Mogotio districts where five people lost their lives last week. The VP was accompanied by Special Programmes minister Dr Naomi Shabaan.

He spoke at Kures Primary school in Mogotio where more than 200 families displaced by floods have been camping.

The VP helped distribute part of the 300 bags of cereals donated by the government to the displaced families.

The Kenya Red Cross was praised for its quick response which helped to save many lives. The VP also visited another camp in Rongai where a further 300 families have pitched tents at Athinai area.

They were displaced by floods after River Rongai burst its banks last week. Four people, including a mother and her two children, died last Friday. Dr Shabaan said a total of 20,000 people have been displaced by floods in the country.

Sports Minister Prof Hellen Sambili, whose Rongai constituency was worst hit, urged the government to provide alternative land for the displaced persons because the area was flood prone.