Nature’s fury of relentless rains has left crop destruction and displacement in agriculture-rich Nyandarua, with farms, schools and trading centres flooded.
In Kageraini village in Nyakio ward, farm produce worth millions has been damaged or devastated; hundreds of acres of crops were swamped and unsellable.
Leaders and the Ministry of Education officers sought alternative KCSE examination centres after a number of schools were flooded.
Nyandarua Woman Rep Faith Gitau said some villages in Kinangop were cut off due to floods.
She attributed the mess to poor drainage systems and appealed to the national government to intervene before lives are lost.
“We are seeking buses to help KCSE candidates travel to the exams centres as the roads are currently impassable due to the floods,” she said.
Speaking after visiting the affected areas, the woman rep said that fresh products in the farms had been left to rot as water levels continued to rise by the day.
“We are now feeling the full effects of the El Nino rains and we are calling for support from the national government in opening up the roads and the clogged up drainage system,” she said.
Gitau said the only solution was to construct water dams and pans in future to harvest the waters.
Nyakio MCA Zachariah Njeru warned of massive losses in the coming days as the rains continued to pound the region and nearby centre.
Njeru blamed the current crisis on the geographical formation of the area which is flat, adding there were no drainage systems.
“This is a major tragedy that has not only affected farmers but also traders in nearby centres and we fear some families could be displaced if the rains continue,” he said.
Samuel Kuria, one of the many farmers affected, said the area had recorded heavy rains for the last three days leading to flooded homes and farms.
“Over 3,000 people have been affected by the floods and we fear for students who are sitting for the exams as all schools in this area have also been flooded,” he said.
