- Governor Sakaja cautioned victims against going back to the areas hit by floods
- He assured residents of Nairobi who have been displaced by floods that the government will resettle them
Image: WILLISH ADUR
Nairobi's county government on Wednesday evacuated residents living near Kangemi Dam to prevent another tragedy, Governor Johnson Sakaja has said.
The governor was making reference to the recent Mai Mahiu tragedy, where over 50 people were killed after a water reservoir burst.
“We have also sent Water Resource Management Authority to Nairobi Dam to look at it, we might even need to evacuate others,” Sakaja said.
The city is looking to mitigate the effects of the heavy downpour being experienced across the country.
The rains have caused havoc, with Nairobi alone reporting deaths of over 20 people due to flashfloods.
"We might need to consider again what we do with our schools,” Sakaja added.
The government has started reconstruction of the 12 bridges that were destroyed by floods to ensure that children can cross over and go to school.
The governor spoke at Uhuru Gardens on Wednesday during the Labour Day celebrations.
Sakaja assured residents of Nairobi who have been displaced by floods that the government will resettle them.
He said the county was working closely with President William Ruto and the national government on the resettlement plan.
The governor also cautioned victims against going back to the areas hit by floods.
“I am urging the affected people, do not go back where you came from, where our houses have been washed away by the flood waters,” he said.
Sakaja said the floods disaster will make the public appreciate more the need for affordable housing in Nairobi, as tenants would not want to reside in risk areas where they pay Sh2000 to 3,000.
“We support the President and will work with him to make sure the affordable housing is implemented,” he said.
Nairobi leaders - among them the Senator, Members of Parliament and the administration - have agreed that they will secure riparian land order to save peoples’ lives.
“We spoke to wananchi and they agreed that they will not go back to settle there,” he said.
Sakaja thanked the multi-agency team for working with the county government to save lives during this season of flooding.
“I recognise one category of workers - the 3,500 youths of the Green Army who have been unclogging drainages and removing dirt on the roads,” he said.
Without them, the effects of the rain would have been worse, since the quantity of water has made rivers in Nairobi to swell.
The governor said Nairobi has challenges as a result of its rivers which include Ngong, Mathare and Nairobi, bursting their banks.
“Last Tuesday night, I was at Viwandani where people slept on roofs. I have also been at Kwa Reuben, Kawangware, Mathare, Ruaraka, Utalii, Mabatini where houses were washed by floods.”
Sakaja said he also visited Mwiki, Mathare North, Eastleigh and Kiambiu where he issued the affected families with food.
He further called upon the striking doctors to resume work, noting that at least 80 percent of medics in Nairobi are working, adding that there is no issue that cannot be resolved through negotiation.