News Release

Mormons Help Solai Flood Victims

A wall of water gushed from the breached Solai Dam during the night of April 9, 2018. The losses were extensive, causing the death of 47 people in addition to the destruction of more than 200 homes and personal property.

A devastating flood affected many people as over 200 homes were washed away with the breach of the Solai Dam near Nakuru, Kenya on April 9, 2018. A wall of water gushing from the Solai Dam that was filled to overcapacity due to the high rain runoff, collapsed during the night and it is reported that 47 people died in addition to the destruction of homes and personal property.

With the direction of Stake Presidents of both Nairobi West and East Stakes, the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints put on their yellow Mormon Helping Hands vests and sorted the many donated items including food stuffs, blankets, and clothing. The Mormon Helping Hands volunteers also helped with labeling and loading of 900 iron sheets into a truck for re-building homes. The iron sheets were provided by the humanitarian arm of the Church known as LDS Charities.

 

Members from Nairobi, of the Coordinating Council of Public Affairs, drove to Nakuru to hand over the donated goods to both the County Government Representatives and the Red Cross. Joseph Poche, Public Affairs Area Assistant Director, Dr. Evelyn Jepkemei, Kenya Coordinating Council Director, Philip Makau, Mormon Helping Hands Director and Bella Bukhala and Robinson Aliero, photographers, made the trip to document and inspect the Solai disaster area for the purpose to help rebuild.

Members of the Church in the Nakura Branch, led by Brother Lual, along with Brother Danson and Sister Margret were there to help with presenting the donation to the County Government represented by the Rift Valley County Commissioner and the Nakuru Red Cross, which partnered with the Church for the delivery. The Regional County Commissioner of Rift Valley in the Nakuru Head Office, Mr. Mongo Chimwanga and his Deputy County Commissioner accepted the donations on behalf of the county. Ms. Noelah Njeri, representing The Nakuru Red Cross was also present to accept the donated items.

The affected families were contained for several days in a camp, housed at the Solai High School until the government ordered them to evacuate as school would resume on Monday, the 21St of May. Many people will bear scars of the destruction for years to come. The members of the Church traveled to the devastated area in Solai to get a first-hand view of the flood area where the donated items will be utilized and to assure the county government, the Red Cross and the affected families of the members’ continued support to help as needed.

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