Kirinyaga schools safe, ready for re-opening – administrator

Kirinyaga county schools are safe and ready for reopening, area county commissioner Hussein Allasow has said.

Allasow, however, said only one school is not ready for opening and that its condition is being monitored.

The administrator said both the county and national government have been on high alert and have been doing everything humanly possible to manage the floods.

“We have managed the situation and we are urging our people to be on high alert because we have been told by the weatherman that the rains might continue,” he said.

Allasow said quick response by the county government saved the situation.

The Ministry of Education last Monday released a communication pushing schools opening date from April 29 to May 6 following the heavy rains.

The rains, since onset, have claimed hundreds of lives in the country, destroyed property, infrastructure and displaced families.

In Kirinyaga, the rains have claimed one life, destroyed property and  displaced several families.

Allasow said victims of the floods have been receiving food supplies from government.

The administrator, however, cautioned drivers to avoid flooded roads and advised residents not to attempt to cross swollen rivers.

County Government of Kirinyaga has been using machinery to redirect flood water back into the rivers and other water catchment areas by draining it.

The areas the county has mainly focused on include Tebere, Thiba, Wamumu, Gathigiriri, Mutithi, Kariti, Kangai and Nyangati wards which are prone to flooding, mudslides and landslide.

The officials have also been involved in the cleaning of waterways through the removal of soil and other dirt blocking the drainage systems and culverts as well as doing new trenches to drain water from flooded areas.

He spoke when he visited some of the affected areas Tuesday.

Deputy governor David Githanda who accompanied the County Commissioner said the county's joint disaster preparedness and response committee comprising of national and county government officials have come up with measures to safeguard lives and property.

Other than draining the water, other measures will include evacuation of people from flood and landslide prone areas.

Githanda added that the committee has mapped out areas affected by flooding for immediate interventions among them excavation of trenches and desilting of canals to drain water.

County Executive Committee Member for Transport, Roads, Public Works and Housing, Jared Migwi, said the flood situation is being addressed by creating alternative routes for water to flow from homes.

“The county government has deployed excavators to assist residents marooned by the floods by digging trenches to drain the water, so that residents can access their homes,” he said.