Over 50,000 people will be affected if five dams across five counties water spill due to the ongoing El Nino rains.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Saturday announced that the government is closely monitoring the ongoing El-Nino-induced rains and the rising water levels in Masinga, Kamburu, Kindaruma, Gitaru and Kiambere Dams.
He revealed that should the water spill, 3,000 lives in Embu, 2,000 in Tharaka Nithi, 25,000 in Kitui, 30,000 in Garissa and others in Machakos will be affected.
“However, with real-time monitoring using scientific mechanisms, dams visual inspection and instrumental readings and analysis, emergency preparedness and response measures have been put in place, to save lives and evacuate to safety,” Kindiki said.
The Interior boss was undertaking a security risk assessment at the settlements contiguous to Masinga, Kamburu, Kindaruma, Gitaru and Kiambere Dams for public safety contingency planning to mitigate against the risks posed by the ongoing El Nino rains.
Going further, the CS noted that should the scientific projections and physical inspection of the dams indicate they are filling up and likely to spill over, residents living around the dams will be forcibly evacuated to save their lives.
Kindiki noted that alternative sites where residential camps will be established have been identified, food and non-food items transported from Nairobi to ease the logistics of distribution.
“Kama hakutakuwa na mvua nyingi na mafuriko, hakutakuwa na haka ya kuhama. Lakini kama itabidi kuhama, serikali itagharamia zoezi hilo, tutawapa chakula, malazi, madawa na yale yote mtahitaji,” he said.
To ensure that the effects will be minimal, Kindiki revealed that data of persons likely to be affected has been collected, and they will be reached out to daily on SMSs and calls for monitoring and evacuation updates.
