We’ve catered for all 800,000 flood victims, says Wamalwa
Wangari Njuguna and Robert Ochoro
The government has spent Sh1.3 billion to cater for families that have been affected by the heavy rains pounding various parts of the country.
Devolution Cabinet secretary Eugene Wamalwa said yesterday 800,000 people had been affected by floods or landslides.
Speaking during a visit to Murang’a, the Wamalwa said West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Tana River and Murang’a are some of the severely affected counties.
He said the government is taking data of all the affected persons to plan for the facilitation they will need.
“We have distributed food and non-food items, and moved people to temporary places where they will be safe until the rains subside,” he said.
However, he said, the number of affected persons is likely to go up as the rains have been projected to go on until next month.
“We have so far lost about 200 lives during this season and I am appealing to the public to keep off any potentially risky areas,” he added.
Wamalwa said the State would help construct new homes for families whose houses have been destroyed.
“We have so far built 223 houses in West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet with the help of the Kenya Red Cross and we shall reach out to more families,” he said.
Provide support
In Mandera, more than 8,000 families affected by floods are set to benefit from relief supplies from the county government.
Deputy Governor Mohamed Ahmed Arai yesterday flagged off trucks carrying the food rations including 102 tonnes of rice, 33 tonnes of beans and 25 tonnes of cooking oil to be issued to the families.
Speaking outside the county headquarters in Mandera town, Arai said each of the 8,229 families is to get 12.5kg of rice, four kilogrammes of beans and three litres of cooking oil.
“The response interventions that are necessary to save the lives of our people and those of their livestock are immense.
Accordingly, we call upon the national government, non-governmental organisations and all other development partners to provide support to the families living along the riverine areas as it rains heavily in the Ethiopian highlands leading to more floods downstream in our county,” Arai said.
Rehabilitate dams
Last week, Mandera Governor Ali Roba expressed concern over raging floods in the county as a result of downpour in Ethiopian highlands, causing havoc downstream.
He said there was risk of transmission of Covid-19 in overcrowded makeshift shelters in displaced persons’ camps.
The county’s food security has also been threatened by recent drought, floods, locust invasion, ban of travel into and out of Mandera and the month of Ramadhan that has seen prices of food triple.
Meanwhile, the government has given 25,000 bags of maize to victims of floods in Trans Nzoia county.
CS Wamalwa at the same time assured residents of Namanjalala location, Kwanza Sub-county, that the government will rehabilitate dams to help curb floods in the area.
Wamalwa said the flooding is caused by silting of dams and once rehabilitated, residents will be at peace with water.
At least 5,000 people have been affected by floods as heavy rains continue to be experienced across the county.
Speaking while distributing foodstuff to the affected families at Namjalala Secondary School on Sunday, Wamalwa asked residents to support the government in its initiative to rehabilitate the dams by moving away from riparian land.
At the same time, Kisii Governor, James Ongwae has invited experts from the National government to conduct research on causes of landslides in the county to curb destruction of property and trees.
The Governor said Nyabworoba, Mochorwa and Botaranda villages in Kitutu Chache North, Bomachoge Chache and Bomachoge Borabu constituencies were prone to landslides, which have displaced residents.
He appealed to experts from Mining and Geology Departments to find out whether the places were fit for people to settle and advise the county on measures to take to curb the landslides.
“We want the experts to establish whether the places are habitable and forge a long- lasting solution to the residents,” Ongwae said in a statement sent to People Daily.
Floods and landslides, he said, have destroyed crops, livestock and trees worth millions of shillings, adding that nobody has been killed or injured due to heavy rains pounding the area.
“A majority of floods and landslides victims are staying at schools. I urge them to be patient till the rain subsides,” Ongwae said, adding more than 2,000 persons have been affected. -Additional reporting by KNA
