Uthiru residents seek intervention as rainwaters flood homes

 

A section of residential areas flooded by rainwaters in Uthiru. [Kimaku Chege, Standard]

Uthiru residents have asked the national government to intervene and find a lasting solution to perennial flood waters that wreak havoc in their homes.

The residents who blamed developers for  building in waterways forcing floodwaters to enter into their houses said the situation has now become a threat to their livelihoods.

Area Member of County Assembly Eric Ndungu said the current flooding situation caused by the heavy rains has displaced over 150 families.

Ndungu said the county government and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) have embarked on a mission to ensure that they have reduced the flood water entering the residential homes.

He said the county government has promised to assist the displaced families as it seeks to find a lasting solution.

The death toll from heavy rains and floods across the country has hit 188 after nine more bodies were retrieved. 

So far, at least ninety (90) people are still missing, with 125 others injured while approximately 165,500 persons have been displaced by the floods.

Some of the residential houses marooned by flood waters in Uthiru. [Kimaku Chege, Standard]

This comes amid fears of an emerging humanitarian crisis in areas grossly affected by floods.

Nairobi, Kajiado, Nakuru, Mandera, and Homa Bay Counties are the most affected by the flooding in the last 24 hours as landslides and mudslides continue to occur in Murang'a and Nakuru counties.

For instance, in Nyanza, health workers have raised concerns over the growing cases of malaria in the camps hosting families displaced by floods.

In the Rift Valley region, the destructive floods have brought activities in several towns and villages to a standstill as a result of the heavy trail of destruction in homes and vital infrastructure.