Families salvage spoils in floods

Houses submerged at Mwariki Estate in the outskirts of Nakuru town after Lake Baringo spilt over on May 20,2020. Hundreds of people have been displaced and property destroyed. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Over 80 families in the flooded Mwariki estate of Nakuru have demolished their houses and fled with valuables.

The locals fear the swelling Lake Nakuru may cause them more harm if they hang around as rains continue to pound.

Eunice Wanjiku, a mother of six, said she decided to demolish her house and flee the area where she has lived for 15 years.

“Our farms and homes are submerged. The situation is getting worse and I have no choice but to flee,” Wanjiku said.

Mwariki settlement scheme was opened in 1979 and is home to at least 1,000 families.

Wanjiku said they acquired the land 20 years ago and never thought a time would come when they would be forced to flee. She had put up a permanent structure.

David Mungai, another local, wants the government to intervene and assist them.

The locals now fear there will be an outbreak of waterborne diseases as all their pit latrines have been filled.

Jack Raini, an environmental conservationist based in Nakuru, said the issue of rising water levels was of major concern.

Lake Nakuru, he noted, has swelled and expanded by around 80 kilometre square.

"The water levels might not reduce anytime soon," he said.