Torrential rains wreak havoc in Thika villages
The ongoing rains have wreaked havoc at Kisii and Kang’oki villages in Thika, Kiambu County, leaving tens of homes uninhabitable.
Raging waters, coupled with a heavy spillage of untreated sewage, have resulted in a terrible mess that has left locals calling on relevant government agencies to intervene.
A section of houses at the Kisii village is mushroomed by dirty liquids leading to serious movement challenges, insecurity, poor health and economic instability.
Already, some residents have fled the area for alternative occupation. According to the residents, despite the floods wrecking havoc in the area for the fourth year now, the relevant agencies have failed to address the situation, only making fake pledges.
Led by Elijah Chege, the irate locals, who claim to have been neglected by all their elected leaders regretted that even before the rains started, their villages were not habitable.
Takes issue
Chege took issue with Thika Water and Sewerage Company (Thiwasco), the firm mandated with distribution of safe water and sewerage services of taking them in circles despite promising to resolve the deepened clutter.
“It has been hell living here. Our houses are flooded, not with storm water but a mixer of that and raw sewage.
We have been forced to stay with gumboots even inside our houses,” decried Chege.
His sentiments were echoed by Ruth Nyokabi, who has lived in the area for over a decade and who said that they have been protesting over sewage leakage for long.
Esther Mwakurunga, another resident, said she developed Athritis, because of the moist in her house.
She, too, has blamed Thiwasco and the county of giving them a deaf ear despite making numerous reports about their recurrent disquieting encounters.
“I have developed Athritis at the age of 35 years because of someone’s neglect and failure to do their jobs well.
My children are also unsafe and many are the times we have to go for therapy,” she said.
Efforts to reach county officials and the water firm for a comment over the matter were unproductive.
