Nairobi: Following the severe rainfall that occurred in Nairobi on Sunday night, which resulted in property damage, multiple fatalities, and homelessness, Governor Johnson Sakaja has issued five directions.
In a statement issued on Monday, March 25, Sakaja directed the Nairobi Water Sewerage Company to mobilize its water bowsers to be deployed in affected areas and also provide residents with clean water.
Additionally, he gave the Community Health Providers (CHP) and public health officers orders to step up on-the-ground assistance by giving impacted individuals psychosocial support and distributing water treatment tablets.
Nairobi citizens were reassured by the governor that the county government was keeping an eye on the situation and taking the required precautions to prevent property and human casualties.
“I want to appeal to our fellow brothers and sisters living along riparian and flood-prone areas to heed the calls of our Disaster Management teams to move from these areas,” Gov. Sakaja added.
He also offered his sympathies to all the families who had lost loved ones. Sakaja restated that to provide emergency assistance to Nairobi citizens, the county was collaborating with the national government, the National Police Service, and the Red Cross.
Additionally, the Nairobi County Government engaged Green Nairobi, an army of people, to clean the city and clear the city’s drainage systems, received a directive from the governor.
Sakaja ordered 170 Green Army soldiers to clear and unclog drainage systems in high-temperature zones.
In conclusion, Sakaja requested that the Disaster Management Team work in conjunction with the National Disaster Operations Centre, Red Cross, and NPS to assist in the search and recovery of individuals who have gone missing.
Sakaja made her comments more than 14 hours after heavy rains in Nairobi caused traffic jams on the motorway, flooded homes, and drove numerous Kenyans from their homes.
Nairobi locals demanded of the governor, in the wake of the floods, that the capital have a functional drainage system and that a capable disaster response team be established.
Nairobi residents were also cautioned by the Kenya Meteorological Department to make appropriate preparations in case there is a similar downpour later tonight in various sections of the city.
