The teacher, identified as Richard Mutinda of Syiluni Primary School, is believed to have drowned after attempting to cross the swollen River Selonyi on a motorcycle.
The incident happened after heavy rains pounded several parts of Makueni County, causing rivers to overflow and flood nearby roads.
“I want to stand with the families of the deceased. It is sad that they had to lose their loved ones in suci h a manner.
Through the Sonko Rescue Team, we shall provide coffins and transport the bodies and family members to whichever part of the country they wish to bury their loved ones,” he said
In a personal gesture captured during the announcement, Sonko consoled the mother of one victim, Jerome Mutua:
“Sorry for your loss, mum. I will cater for the coffin expenses, transportation to the place where you will bury your son, and if there are any pending bills, we shall help settle them.”
He further vowed to cover full funeral logistics, including potential use of his high-end Lexus hearse and burial outfits where needed.
The pledge targets the families of 27 flood victims whose bodies are currently held at various city mortuaries, including the City Mortuary and Nairobi Funeral Home.
The victims lost their lives in flash floods triggered by heavy rains that pounded Nairobi starting around March 6, with dramatic scenes of submerged vehicles and a car plunging into a ditch along Uhuru Highway.
Nationally, the death toll from the ongoing heavy rains has reached 49, with 2,624 families displaced and significant infrastructure damage reported, including to at least 16 police stations.
Families have been thronging mortuaries in recent days to identify loved ones, facing immense financial and emotional strain amid the crisis.
Sonko urged political leaders to set aside differences and focus on relief efforts, criticising the politicisation of the tragedy.
“When I was governor, we made it a habit to unclog drainage to ease flooding. Instead of leaders coming together to help, some are busy politicising the issue. That is wrong. Let us come together and do what is supposed to be done,” he added
The initiative comes as President William Ruto has also announced support for flood victims, including a pledge of Sh. 8 million to bereaved families (Sh. 2 million each to select households), payment of hospital bills, and release of relief food. Emergency teams continue to urge residents in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer ground.
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