High Alert: Masinga Dam could overflow at any time of torrential rains persist.
Water Resources Authority CEO Mohamed Shurie said if the rains continue at the current or heavier intensity, Masnga Dam could overflow at any time.
In a statement sent on Tuesday, the CEO said other areas to watch include GreenPark Estatealong Stone Athi River, Seefar Estate and all buildings downstream of the Nairobi Dam embankment.
“Areas of high risk are Kiserian Dam in Kajiado county and Bathi Dam along Bathi River in Kiambu,” Shurie said.
He said that due to the magnitude of the ongoing floods, most water resources, including rivers, are at critical stages, threatening to burst their banks or break their embankments.
“The public is, therefore, notified to move to higher grounds and adhere to flood alerts given through media channels and community forums to avoid further destruction of lives, properties, the spread of water-borne diseases and loss of biodiversity,” he said.
The WRA is a government agency responsible for regulating the management and use of water resources.
At least 100 people are known to have died due to floods countryside within the last month.
There's been major groundwater recharge, ensuring boreholes have significant amounts of water ... springs, swamps and wetlands have sprung up where they were deemed absent.
The floods have also destroyed livelihoods, property and in some areas, led to water contamination and waterborne diseases.
On Monday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i asked residents living in low-lying areas prone to mudslides in Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyeri and Taita Taveta to take precautions and move for their safety.
Shurie said despite these devastations, the situation has also created opportunities for those with storage to harvest water.
“There has also been substantial groundwater recharge, ensuring that boreholes have significant amounts of water. Nonetheless, rivers are breaking their banks, springs, swamps and wetlands have sprung up where they were deemed absent,” he said.
The wost affected areas are Tana, Athi and Rift Valley catchments, Masinga Dam (Lower Tana River in Garissa, Garsen, Hola) with a gauge height of 5.6 metres and rising and Kiambere Dam (along Tana River in Kerugoya).
“Ruiru Dam (along Ruiru River) and Sasumua Dam along Chania River are full, Sio River at Mudika Market, Muruny and Wei Wei Rivers in West Pokot are flooded while Mathioya River is full,” he said.
Shurie said rampant encroachment in water catchment and riverine areas is increasing, exposing many to risks in the event of flooding.
This encroachment violatesWRM Rules 2007.
Edited by R.Wamochie
