Kirinyaga residents raise alarm over flood and landslide risks ahead of rains

Red Cross coordinator Martin Kagunda said the county has previously experienced destruction of property, flooding of villages and loss of lives during heavy rains, and warned that vulnerable areas could face similar risks.

Kagunda identified Thiguku village in Ndia Constituency, where residents have previously been displaced, and Kariti village, where the Sagana and Ragati rivers frequently overflow, among areas at risk.

In Mwea, he listed areas near River Thiba, including Kithogondo, Ngurubani, Jambo Ville and Mahigaini, as vulnerable to flooding. Kibirigwi and Nguguini in Ndia and Kamweti in Gichugu were identified as areas prone to landslides.

He also raised concerns over abandoned quarries and swamps in Mahigaini, Ngucue and Kinjinji, saying they could pose additional risks during heavy rains.

Kagunda cited a previous incident at Mahigaini quarry and a landslide in Kamweti that he said covered several acres of a tea plantation.

He said Red Cross response teams had been trained in first aid and weather monitoring to facilitate rapid deployment in case of emergencies.

The organisation is also engaging the National Irrigation Authority on the desilting of drainage channels in Mwea, he said, while calling on the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), the county government and Kenya Power to undertake early preparations, including checking drainage infrastructure and electricity lines and poles.

Residents, led by John Munene, and Tebere Ward MCA Peter Karinga, said more than 1,000 people had previously been affected in Ngurubani town, Kithogondo and Kiamanyeki, raising concerns about the level of preparedness ahead of the rains.

The issue has also come before the Kirinyaga County Assembly, where MCAs raised concerns over what they described as inadequate coordination between county departments and other agencies.