Isiolo’s Sh800m project damaged by floods

Floods have destroyed infrastructure project worth Sh800 million belonging to Isiolo Water and Sewerage Company (Iwasco).

Iwasco Managing Director Joseph Guyo said underground pipes for both water and sewerage system have been destroyed.

“The damage was largely caused by floods following heavy rains in Timau and Subuiga in Meru County. Isiolo lies on a low altitude and water is bound to follow its natural course,” said Lordman Lekalkuli, the County El-Nino Task Force Chairman.

At least eight people have died in Isiolo town due to floods, hundreds of families displaced and property worth millions of shillings destroyed.

A Three-Star lodge within Buffalo Springs lodge had to relocate tourists to a neighbouring facility in Samburu County after Ewaso Nyiro River burst its banks. And in Machakos County, two relatives were injured and 15 others left homeless after floods destroyed their houses over the weekend.

Wayua Munyenze, 35, and Ng’ondu Mutiso, 80, who broke their hands as they salvaged household items were taken to the Machakos Level Five Hospital.

The incident occurred at around 2am at Kithangathini village in Mitaboni, Kathiani sub-county. Kathiani MP Robert Mbui visited the scene and gave the affected families Sh10,000 cash to share and promised to bring them cloths, blankets and food among other items.

“I wonder what is the county government is doing with the Sh300 million it allocated for the El nino calamities since it has done nothing so far in my constituency,” Mr Mbui said.

Elsewhere, a 27-year-old woman was swept away by flood water at Soitoudo in Doldol, Laikipia County. Her body is yet to be recovered. Mary Chebet was one of the crew of the ill fated ambulance that was swept away by floods last week.

Her husband, Cyrus Bett, a nurse at Sekenani Health Centre, has pitched camp in the area and every day he joins locals in digging out the sand with the hope of finding his wife’s body. And a number of feeder roads in Pokot Central and Kacheliba sub-counties in West Pokot County have been rendered impassable.

A heavy downpour rendered sections of Sigor-Lomut road impassable after Suam river in Kacheliba and Turkwel near Kainuk burst their banks. The overflowing water destroyed maize crops in Sigor.

“We have incurred some losses following the heavy rains that pounded here last week although it appears to subside by the day,” said Musa Tekelezi, a former Councillor for Lomut ward.

And Kisumu County requires Sh1 billion to mitigate the impact of El-Nino, which has left over 2,300 people homeless in Nyakach, Nyando and Muhoroni. Governor Jack Ranguma has said an assessment had indicated that there was massive damage to crops, homes and infrastructure that was in under construction. He asked the national government to release the Sh billion El Nino funds.

-Report by Ali Abdi, Victor Nzuma, Kevine Omollo, Wilberforce Netya and Charles Ngeno