Cry for help! Wajir leaders call for State intervention over El Nino

Wajir leaders have appealed to the National government to release emergency funds to address the devastating effects of the ongoing El Nino rains. 

Addressing the media on Monday, the leaders led by Wajir  Governor Ahmed Abdullahi noted that more than 10,000 people were affected by the floods.

“In our efforts, as county government, we attempted to use helicopters to relocate those trapped by rising waters to safer areas. However, the intensity of the rainfall and the soil's inability to absorb it have overwhelmed us. Unless we get more logistical support, we fear more lives will be lost,” he said.

The leaders described the situation back in Wajir as dire, noting that the heavy downpour has claimed the lives of at least four individuals, left scores stranded, and displaced thousands from their homes.

Abdullahi urged the state to urgently intervene and channel proper logistical support to evacuate marooned residents to prevent waterborne diseases and further casualties.

“We are now faced with a situation where the livestock which is our main livelihood is getting trapped in the mud. It's heartening to see someone just leave their livestock stuck in the mud and can do nothing about it,” he noted.

Going on, the Governor revealed the water from the rains was twenty times more than the normal rain and some of it was coming from Ethiopia and some parts of Central Kenya.

All roads leading to Wajir are said to have been cut off making transportation of food and medicine to the county an impossibility.

Stressing how difficult the situation is on the ground, the county boss noted that 57 tonnes of medicine had been stuck on the road since last week

However, with the help of Kenya Defence Forces medical supplies have been airlifted to address immediate health needs.

Eldas MP Adan Keynan said that if Elnino rain continues to pound the country and Wajir for another month the road network in the county will be completely cut off.

He lamented that the road connecting Wajir and Mandera Counties from Garissa County had been washed away by floods at Modugashe, impending transportation of goods and services.

Keynan urged the State to avail Kenya Air Force planes to deliver food and medicine for the provision to the needy people.

“We are appealing to the government to come out properly organized and assist the residents of Wajir, Mandera and Garissa counties in complimenting the county governments by invoking the emergency measures that will avert further loss of lives,” Keynan said.

Wajir Senator Abass Sheikh on his part wondered why the government was much concentrated on other parts of the country like Mombasa City that were hit by the heavy rain recently but ignored the northern part of the country.

As a result, the Senator asked President William Ruto to declare the ongoing El Nino rains a national disaster to attract the necessary support and resources to mitigate its effects.

Fatuma Jehow Abdi who is the woman representative said that the county has been faced with a communication shutdown since Friday because of a shortage of fuel due to transport problems.

She said that the electricity transformers will have no fuel and this will lead to the whole county being thrown in the dark.