6 areas at risk as water levels at Nairobi Dam rise dangerously

The Water Resources Authority has issued a precautionary notice urging hundreds of residents who are at risk to relocate immediately. 

The water levels at the Nairobi Dam continue to rise dangerously following the heavy rainfall that has been experienced in Nairobi and other parts of the country in the recent past.

Hundreds of residents living or working downstream of the dam are staring at an imminent disaster, a situation that has seen the Water Resources Authority issue a warning urging those at risk to move to safer grounds.

Areas identified as at risk include Kibera, parts of Highrise, Lang’ata, South C, Mbagathi Way, and Madaraka.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja joined the Authority in calling for relocation to avert crisis. 

"We must make tough decisions and those decisions are for us. My brothers from Kibra, you know what happens along Ngong River. Right now, I am worried; I received a notice about Nairobi Dam. It started in 1953 and if it was to burst today, we would lose so many lives…there are people who must move,” Sakaja stated. 

Governor Sakaja cautioned politicians against politicizing the warnings, even as the nationwide flood death toll climbs to 83.

"If you look at parts of the programmes that we are doing, we are doing the Nairobi Regeneration Program … which opens up the river well. We are telling people to leave riparian land. A project of Ksh.50B… we recently opened Kamukunji Park and the things we are doing we must do as a generation,” said Sakaja. 

And even as this situation unfolds in Nairobi, the impact of the ongoing heavy rains is already being felt in different parts of the country.

In Baringo County, a landslide has claimed two lives in Kasaka and Kabarkebo villages in Baringo North.

It is reported that a woman died following the landslides while a four-year-old child was swept away by floods, the two deaths pushing the numbers to 83 countrywide.

“We heard it around 2:30 am; we heard a roar and wondered if it was an earthquake,” says Elvis Lagat, a resident of Baringo County. 

“We lost an ECD teacher; she had a child but we managed to save the child. The public helped us,” added Symon Kiplagat, MCA, Kabartonjo Ward

And as the rains continue, residents who are living along flood-prone areas have been urged to be extra vigilant.

"That side has affected four houses below, and in Kakoiywa and Kipsarama, the road is impassable,” said Joseph Makilap, MP Baringo North

“At night it is difficult to know where disaster might strike, so I ask all those in danger zones to move to safe areas,” added Robert Odongo, Sub-County Commander, Baringo North

The Kenya Meteorological Department says heavy rainfall exceeding 20mm in 24 hours is expected to continue until Tuesday across several parts of the country.