Government learns little from past flood menace

Government learns little from past flood menace

Not for the first time, the Government has been caught napping as floods cause havoc in various parts of the country.

"Every rainy season there is a disaster. Does it mean our Government never learns?" asks Kenfrey Akeya of Humanitarian Watch Centre (HWC).

Budalang’i Constituency, for example, has become synonymous with flooding. This year is no different after River Nzoia broke its banks. Hundreds of families have been displaced, creating fear of a disease outbreak and forcing schools to be closed early after they were submerged. The residents of Bunyala East and Central locations now live in camps at Mukhobola Health Centre, Mudembi chief’s camp, Free Pentecostal Church and the DC’s office.

National Environment Management Authority (Nema) Western provincial director, Mr Wangwe Barasa, says pit latrines have been swept away, contaminating shallow water wells and boreholes. This could lead to a disease outbreak.

Incomplete project

Last year the Government and development partners promised to build dykes as a permanent solution. But little appears to have been achieved.

Agriculture Minister William Ruto recently visited Budalang’i and said supervising officers must ensure the completion of the project.

An engineer with the National Water Corporation says not much can be done now: "The ground is muddy, making it difficult for the work to continue."

However, Special Programmes Minister Naomi Shaban says the Government is determined to tame floods throughout the country by damming and developing water harvesting initiatives.

"It is not that we have failed. So far we have released more than Sh7 billion for Budalang’i alone. We are also mapping all dam sites so that we can channel excess water that causes disaster by breaking into households," she says.

But the Town Planners Association chairman Eng Mairura Omwenga believes the problem could be deeper, as there is no national mapping to help the Government know the stray water channels as well as their speed and radius.

Government Spokesman, Dr Alfred Mutua, says everything is being done to ensure wananchi’s safety: "Rain is a blessing and no one plans for it to degenerate into a disaster. However, when this occurs, we always respond very fast by injecting humanitarian relief through established organisations as well as sending the army to assist in evacuation and mitigation."

Red Cross boss Abbas Gullet says the rains have presented a double-pronged disaster in the form of floods and landslides.

"Thousands have been displaced and property and infrastructure destroyed. This calls for millions of shillings for food, shelter and medicine," he says.

Future crisis

Gullet mentions hot spots like Elwak and Wajir towns in North Eastern Province where more than 80,000 people have been affected by floods. In Siaya, there are 1,000 victims, with 34,000 cases in Tana River. Mudslides, Gullet says, have affected Murang’a and Pokot districts.

Water Development Minister Charity Ngilu blames poor planning for the perennial flooding.

"We have to first minimise the magnitude of damage done and then once and for all solve the problem to avert future crisis," she says.

By Mwangi Muiruri and Roselyne Obala

Damaged roads pose challenge to travellers

Come rain or shine, there appears to be no reprieve for North Eastern Province residents . After threats of drought a few weeks ago, the rains have now rendered the Garissa-Wajir and Garissa- Dadaab roads impassable. Shantaabq, Laghbogol, Habaswein, Modugashe and Kanjara are the worst affected areas.

In the North Rift, the Wei Wei Bridge linking Pokot and Marakwet districts as well as the Suam Bridge in Trans Nzoia have collapsed. Landslides have also claimed 13 lives in Pokot Central District, and DC Jeremiah Were says some families will be relocated to safer areas.

Farmers’ food frustrations

Mzee Joseph Odhiambo, a village elder in Makunda, Budalang’i, believes the annual floods are reducing residents to poverty: "Our maize which was almost mature is now submerged and will go to waste. Other crops have also been swept away."

Mr Samuel Otuka concurs, saying residents are uncomfortable relying on food aid "like refugees" every year.

Residents pray for end of rain

Floods in Nyanza Province have left a trail of destruction in Nyatike and Alego-Usonga, displacing more than 1,500 families. In Nyatike, residents are relocating to higher ground. Affected families have also turned to prayers in a desperate effort to "stop" the rains.

"A permanent solution lies in constructing dykes along river Kuja and Ongoche," says Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga, adding that more people could be affected.

By Boniface Ongeri, Isaiah Lucheli, Roselyne Obala and Kepher Otieno

Point of Order

Officials responsible for road reserve allocation

Raziya Mohamedali says the demolition of buildings on road reserves leaves more questions than answers. Just like PointBlank pointed out in the special report last Tuesday, officials should also take some blame for the mess.

"Who sells or allocates these road reserves in the first place? Why are ‘offending’ structures allowed to be built by the various local authorities? And why are these so-called town planners getting away scot-free without being held to account?" asks Raziya.

The reader also wonders whether the "average mwananchi" is supposed to hire a private detective to know if the property they are renting or buying is on a road reserve.

Further, says Raziya, the selective and "uncivilised" approach to the demolitions is unacceptable: "We all witnessed the intimidating way the demolitions were done on Thika Road, and the way the public was gleefully stealing things from these buildings with the cops watching."

Rumble in the concrete jungle should continue

Minister Chris Obure should not be cowed by powerful individuals who use political connections and wealth to protect their property built on public land, says Mr Joseph Odhiambo, supporting the article in last week’s PointBlank (‘Nairobi demolitions could end impunity’).

"Where do they expect roads to be built? Obure must be supported in the demolitions. Playing blame games by pointing fingers at officials who allocated the land will not help since two wrongs do not make a right. The Government should not fear reversing illegal actions," he says, adding that the rumble of bulldozers should move to other parts of the country

Destruction is unfair

The demolition of buildings on road reserves is in bad faith and should be stopped, says Mr John Wafula, arguing that the least the Government should do is compensate owners of buildings brought down.

"Public officers authorised the allocation of the land and the construction. How can the same Government claim the buildings are illegal?" he asks.

What is your verdict?

Every Tuesday PointBlank, your interactive page, carries a special report on an issue that affects the public.

Write to us with your views on the death and destruction caused by floods. Do you think the Government’s handling of the disaster is up to the mark? We will publish a selection of your comments.