Heavy rains cause havoc in Kenya, again

For nearly three months, day and night time temperatures across the country had reached a record high not witnessed in recent years, a phenomenon scientists attributed to global warming.

Therefore when the Meteorological Department informed Kenyans early last week that the temperatures would go down with effect from last Friday when the rains were expected to start, many hoped it was true. And indeed in one of those incidences where weather predictions become a reality, the rains came right on schedule.

But even with the advance warning, the rains caught everybody in Nairobi unawares, perhaps because we have learnt not to trust the Mets. An overnight shower flooded homes, roads. In some residential estates like South C, rain water found its way into homes; a replay of May last year when a downpour marooned vehicles on several roads in the city.

This speaks of a county government lacking in terms of proper planning. Buildings are being erected without relevant facilities being put up to cope with them. A poor drainage system, clogged sewer lines and the haphazard erection of buildings on natural water ways are causing so much havoc. What became of the Sh50 million Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero set aside to unclog Nairobi's drainage system?