At least 6 killed, thousands displaced by flash floods in Kenya

At least six people have been killed and thousands displaced by flash floods in western Kenya following heavy rains in the region.

The El Nino rains pounding several parts of the East African nation have destroyed property worth millions of shillings (One U.S. dollar equals about 102 Kenyan Shillings) with residents asking for help from the national disaster management.

On Monday, three people were killed by mudslide in Mt Elgon in Bungoma County, among them a pupil at a local school, according to local police.

By Wednesday, Red Cross has been working with police to evacuate families living in mudslide-prone areas in Mt Elgon.

"We have moved to the affected areas to help villagers move to high grounds to avoid more loss of lives," said Hesbon Wekola, Kenya Red Cross Society coordinator in Bungoma County.

In Homa Bay County, raging floods swept away a 50-year-old woman in Tonga area and a pupil in Gwasi area.

Local police said a nine-year-old girl died after the motorcycle she was sitting on was carried away by turbulent water.

Flash floods have caused widespread destruction of property and infrastructure, and have suspended farming and schools in various areas of Kenya.

The most affected regions are in western Kenya, coastal region and parts of Rift Valley where heavy rains have washed away bridges and paralyzed roads.

Volunteers and Red Cross staff have been deployed to flood-hit areas, assisting search and rescue efforts, evacuating people and distributing relief items.

In Bakuyu area in the northeastern region of Garissa, more than 1,000 families have become homeless in the floods.

Speaking to journalists after visiting the affected area, local governor Nathif Jama said the government was doing everything possible to ensure there is no loss of human life during the rainy season.

Kenya Red Cross donated relief items to more than 400 displaced Bakuyu residents.

Roads in the area have become impassible in the rains.

"Accessing schools and medical facilities is difficult in this area. Vehicles delivering examination papers delay as a result of the fast moving water," said Abdi Mohamed, a Bakuyu resident. Endit