At least four people have lost their lives and six others have gone missing as Nairobi grapples with the devastating impact of the ongoing rains.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja revealed that victims were swept away by the torrents in different parts of the city.
This, was as he directed teams at the county to immediately start the evacuation of the families to temporary county shelters.
“Although we are on the brink of a humanitarian crisis, there is a large-scale coordinated response operation ongoing under my strong leadership,” he said.
“Today we intend to evacuate 3,000 people to some shelter centers. Many of the most vulnerable people within the communities that we spoke to have received vital food assistance."
The governor also announced that they were receiving support from various partners who are assisting in delivering food supplies, drinking water, cash, emergency drugs, water purification tablets, dignity and hygiene kits and education support to the affected families.
“The Red Cross together with our Gender department is on the ground to protect children and to deliver safe water, nutrition and health services and supplies,” he remarked.
To mitigate further risks, Sakaja said additional personnel from the Green Army have been deployed to unclog drainage systems across all 17 sub-counties.
Machinery, he noted, has been moved to critical areas to facilitate these efforts.
He further called on the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya Rural Road Authority (KERRA) and Kenya National Highway Authority (KENHA) to speed up the rehabilitation, maintenance and management of various roads in the city to avert crisis.
He also warned the private service providers involved in the collection of solid waste against dumping in undesignated areas other than the Dandora dumpsite.
According to Sakaja, those found will have their PSV licences revoked and trucks impounded.
All excavations along riparian areas, he said, have also been suspended immediately while urging those living along riverbeds and high areas to re-locate.
Kibra, Lindi, Mathare 4A and Mathare North, Baba Dogo, Githurai and Zimmerman, according to Sakaja, remain the most affected areas.
Addressing the press Wednesday after a joint meeting with a team from the Kenya Red Cross, Sakaja at the same time stated that about 60,000 people mostly women and children have been severely affected.
