County governments grapple with flood management as heavy rains persist

In Mukuru kwa Njenga, we meet with Mercy Paul busy carrying out her daily chores. 

For the third time, this has been the situation: flooded homes, destroyed furniture, and road surfaces covered by water. 

A disaster in waiting that Mercy now says will force her to move out with her family as the weatherman has already predicted the start of long rains, which is expected to grow in intensity in April.

"Ni lazima watu wahame juu hawezibebwa vitu hivyo mara mbili tatu lazima uhame utafute mahali ingine ya kuishi... Kama jana mimi nilibeba vitu zangu mingi nikapeleka nyumbani," remarks Mercy Paul, a resident of Mukuru kwa Njenga.

For Samuel Migwi, a trader and resident, this is the seventh time he has endured floods invading his house and store where he has kept items worth hundreds of thousands. He is also contemplating leaving the area to save the remaining items from Mother Nature's wrath.

"Imezidi sasa mitaro imefungika sana kwa sababu hiyo miaka ingine hii nyumba haikuwa inaingia maji lakini mwanzo wa hii mwaka maji imeanza kuingia sana kila mahali, hata kuna wakati nilikuwa nimefuga kuku zote zikakufia hapa, sasa naenda hasara sana," Samuel Migwi expresses his frustration.

But it is in Syokimau, Machakos County, where residents are counting losses running into millions of shillings. The owner of this house under construction at Riverside Court lost over three million shillings after his wall collapsed and the raging waters flooded his construction site. Masons at the site were forced to continue with work despite the mess.

"Itlikuja ikagonga ukuta wetu na ikaingia kwa foundation wall, our perimeter ikacollapse na ikatufanyia mpaka kazi isimame na the entire area was flooded na maji kutoka kwa our project ilitoka ikaingia kwa neighbourhood na ika affect watu wengine sana," explains Daniel Kioko, Construction Manager in Syokimau.

The cause of flooding was a wall built by a developer along River Sabaki blocking the waterway, which found its way into people's homes.

"Wakati alikuwa anajenga hiyo ukuta alienda approvals akaruhusiwa na wenye kumruhusu wangemwonyesha anafaa kujenga up to here so this I saw it as an impunity because you cannot block a river," states Daniel Kioko, Construction Manager in Syokimau.

Officials from Water Resources Authority who visited the area have issued an order to the developer to demolish part of the wall and allow water to flow.

In Nairobi County, Police have confirmed that the death toll following the heavy downpour has hit seven. 

Divers from the county of Nairobi on Tuesday continued with the search for the remains of the late David Chesire, a police officer from Kamukunji Police Station who was swept away while helping families that had been trapped at the Country Bus Station on Sunday night.