30,000 families to be settled within a week, PS Omollo says

Interior PS Raymond Omollo at Kiamaiko Huruma in Nairobi, where residents living within the riparian land were evacuated due to ongoing heavy rains. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said some 30,000  families already evacuated will be given settlement within one week.

Omollo said that the families will be supported with food, shelter, medicine and some little cash for upkeep.

“Within the next one week we would have resolved all these issues in terms of movement of people to better settlement, in terms of ensuring that people who have moved out of the area are not allowed to come back,” said Omollo.

He spoke on Saturday during the visit to the Kiamaiko Huruma Evacuation Centre, where he assessed the progress of relocating people who were evacuated from riparian areas.

The PS urged citizens and leaders to support the evacuation program because it is for the good of all. He said the exercise will bring a lasting solution to the future generation and prevent future incidents and accidents

Omollo applauded the government’s plan on affordable housing and social housing saying that this will be beneficial and those who are affected will be prioritized.

“We have a lot of government land around, one being the police depot in Kiamaiko We will use the place to build social housing so that those families that have been displaced will be given the priority,” said Omollo.

He said that the housing program will not only be done in Mathare but in Kibera, Embakasi as well as other places that are affected within the country.

He added that part of a long-term solution is to plant trees along the river lines to reclaim them and the waterways.

Omollo also said the government will design proper settlements and developments that will help in the conservation of the waterways.

On Saturday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki directed County Security Committees to work with County Governments to coordinate the evacuation and relocation of Kenyans affected by floods.

He said county security agencies should conduct outreach programs to sensitise the public on disaster preparedness, evacuation procedures and emergency response measures.

“Identify and publicise assembly points for those relocating or being evacuated, reception centres at the temporary shelter camps and put in place verifiable documentation procedures for all persons hosted within the temporary shelter camps,” said Kindiki.

 

He said by Friday, some 138 camps had been set up spread across 18 counties to offer temporary shelter to members of the public displaced by the floods.

He said the camps are hosting 62,061 persons from 14,771 households who are being supported with food and non-food essentials until the floods subside.

Kindiki said the list of the actual locations of the temporary shelter camps has been published.

He said the lists have also been displayed at the offices of the respective Assistant Chiefs, Chiefs, Assistant County Commissioners, Deputy County Commissioners and County Commissioners.

“Collaborate with respective County Governments and stakeholders to realise effective flood mitigation efforts and coordinate response to emergencies,” Kindiki directed.

He also directed security agencies to ensure that the relocation and evacuation of affected persons is done in good time, in an orderly manner, humanely and with full respect to the dignity of the affected persons.

Kindiki said as the rains continue, national government administration officers with the supervision of the county security committees are continuously monitoring the situation to ensure more temporary shelter camps are established to accommodate affected persons.

He said besides the 178 dams and water reservoirs where relocation and evacuation orders have been issued, County Security Committees are directed to continuously monitor other dams or water reservoirs with their respective jurisdictions.

On expected Cyclone Hidaya, Kindiki said scientific tracking of the cyclone has been established since it has now acquired full status with the capacity to remain so until it hits the coast of Kenya and Tanzania.

The Kenya Metrological Department (MET) had predicted that the Kenyan coast would experience Cyclone Hidaya on Friday, which did not happen.

“Crucially, the coastal region is likely to experience Cyclone Hidaya, which will result in heavy rainfall, large waves and strong winds that could affect marine activities in the Indian Ocean,” the office of Kenyan President William Ruto said.

However, it was reported on Saturday that stronger winds had been felt in Mombasa.

The government has also cautioned members of the public against engaging in fishing, swimming and other leisure activities within Kenya's territorial waters.

He also cautioned those using the beaches of Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa and Lamu counties to be cautious, since the impact of Cyclone Hidaya could be catastrophic on lives and properties along the mentioned areas.

"As a precautionary measure, activities within Kenya's territorial waters, along the beaches within settlements adjacent to the shoreline will have to be disrupted for public safety reasons," said Kindiki.

 The CS also directed the County Security Committees, in collaboration with the Kenya Coast Guards Service(KCGS) to ban beach activities such as fishing, swimming, and non-essential transport within Kenya's territorial waters.

He also directed the evacuation of settlements deemed too close to the shoreline effectively by May 4, 2024, at 5 pm until Monday 6 when the cyclone is expected to expire.