- In Chaani ward, Changamwe sub-county, several families are yet to come to terms after their homes were destroyed by the rains.
- Chaani chief Ben Valasa said five houses were destroyed during the heavy rains on Wednesday night.
Image: AURA RUTH
More than five families in Mombasa have been left homeless after their houses were brought down by the heavy rains being experienced in the region.
In Chaani ward, Changamwe sub-county, several families are yet to come to terms after their homes were destroyed by the rains.
Chaani chief Ben Valasa said five houses were destroyed during the heavy rains on Wednesday night.
Three houses were destroyed after a perimeter wall fell on the homes.
"In Chaani, we have more than five houses which have been affected. The worst incident happened around the Mathare area, where a five-bedroom house was brought down by a perimeter wall that belongs to a neighbour," he said.
Another area where houses were destroyed is Mlolongo, he said.
He called on the residents to ensure that they moved to safer places in case they noticed any damage in their houses.
"The rains are not over, therefore, we call upon Kenyans to ensure their house is safe or get help from neighbours or any other place that you will feel safe, " he said.
Chaani Social Hall has been set aside to help the affected families.
Valasa urged the residents to be keen on the houses they are living in to avoid loss of life.
Valasa called upon the Kenya Red Cross, other well-wishers and stakeholders to come and help the affected families.
"I would like to thank the Kenya Red Cross for training the disaster management team, but being the main stakeholders when it comes to disaster, we are calling upon them to give anything they could be having and that includes food and clothing to help the affected families,” he said.
"We also call upon other well-wishers to come and help these families.”
The chief asked both county and national governments to use any resource available to help the families.
Walter Andati, a disaster management officer in Changamwe, said that as a committee they witnessed the heavy rains bringing down houses in the area, but no life was lost in the incident.
"I want this incident to serve as a precaution to us the residents. The rains are still here with us, therefore, it is up to us to be cautious," he said.
Every household should ensure that all the leaking ceilings are repaired and the county government should ensure all the blocked drainage systems are unblocked for water to pass to save lives, Andati said.