Tropical Cyclone IALY brought devastation to the Kenyan coast on Tuesday, killing at least two people and injuring five others due to strong winds.

Among the victims was a four-year-old pupil who died when the winds struck Gogoraruhe Mosque ECD School in Mbalamweni, Kaloleni, around 4 pm, causing the roof to collapse. Five pupils were rushed to Mariakani Sub County Hospital, where one female pupil succumbed to her injuries, while four others, aged between two and five, were treated for various head injuries.

Coast police boss George Sedah confirmed the destruction, noting that teams were dispatched to affected villages to assess the damage. “We have sent teams to check in villages and report back on the veracity of the tragedy,” Sedah stated.

In Rabai’s Mwele area, the cyclone caused significant damage, blowing away the roof of a godown at Salima Gases Kenya Limited. Two employees were injured by falling debris; one, Elvis Wasi Changawa, 32, later died from his injuries, while the other was transferred to a hospital in Mombasa.

The cyclone also wreaked havoc at the Kilifi North Sub County offices, where the parking lot roof was torn off, damaging two Ford Ranger vehicles. In Mombasa, the roof of a structure at Mbaraki Girls Comprehensive School was blown off, although no injuries were reported.

The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) reported extensive damage across residential areas in Casuarina, Olimpia, and Madunguni of Malindi County, as well as Garashi in Kilifi County. The extreme winds toppled electric poles, causing a major blackout.

The Kenya Meteorological Department warned of the cyclone's potential impact on marine activities. Director David Gikungu noted that Cyclone IALY's formation marked a rare event in the South-West Indian Ocean. He reported that strong southerly winds, ranging from 10-30 knots, and waves between 1.5 to 3.6 meters were expected along the coast, advising small boats and crafts to avoid deep-sea areas during the forecast period.

“Ialy is expected to weaken starting Tuesday evening and into the night, ultimately dissipating by Wednesday, while remaining offshore despite passing within 150 km of the Kenyan coast,” Gikungu added. He also noted that wave heights from the southeast were expected to decrease to 4-8 feet with shorter periods of 9 seconds, and visibility would be moderate, ranging from 9 to 10 km in Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Lamu.