A video has surfaced purporting that a lady fell into a manhole on the streets of Nairobi after heavy rainfall.
From the video, the street appears flooded and a lady who is walking by holding an umbrella, losses her footing and falls into what looks like a hole. One man rushes to help her but is unable to pull her out.
Background
Heavy rains have been experienced in Kenya over the past few weeks causing deaths, flooding, landslides and displacement in parts of the rift valley, coastal region and central Kenya.
According to the Kenya Red Cross Society, more than 233,000 people across 36 of Kenya’s 47 counties have been affected by the long rains, which began in early March. On the 2nd of May, at least 40,000 people were rendered homeless after River Nzoia burst its banks.
The heavy rainfall has increased the risk of disease outbreaks and hampered efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. A cholera outbreak has already been reported in Marsabit county and parts of North Eastern region.
In a press conference on May 6, Interior Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Fred Matiang’i, confirmed that so far, floods have killed 194 people since March.
Nairobi city on the other hand, has had a history of flush floods following heavy rainfall, which sometimes makes movement along the streets difficult and have in some cases caused death and destruction of property.
Verification
A YouTube search shows that the clip is actually from CCTV footage on a Ugandan street, as reported by NTV Uganda on May 9, 2020.
According to the report, the lady has since been identified as Cissy Namukasa and she is suspected to have drowned in a manhole at Nakawa road Junction.
The CCTV footage is embossed with logo of Bukedde Tv, a Ugandan broadcaster and it is clearly labelled Jinja Road, which is where the junction at which the incident took place is.
While there is a Jinja Road in Nairobi, it shouldn’t be confused for the one in Uganda.
Verdict
The video of a lady falling into a manhole is not from Kenya and the claim is, therefore, FALSE.
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