Gov’t moves to evacuate people as over 50,000 expected to be affected by floods

The government is set to start evacuating people as the ongoing El-Nino-induced rains continue to raise water levels in Masinga, Kamburu, Kindaruma, Gitaru and Kiambere Dams.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki on Saturday warned that the dams may overflow and affect over 50,000 people in Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Kitui, Machakos and Garissa Counties should the rains continue.

Kindiki who toured the dams urged people to adhere to the directives which may be ordering them to vacate their homes downstream to safer places to avert deaths.

“We will issue alerts and notices, and once that is done, evacuation will not be negotiable. We have lost 142 lives, and we cannot wait to lose more. You must cooperate with government officers because they have been sent to ensure your safety,” he said.

The CS reassured the public that the government was closely monitoring the ongoing El Nino with real-time monitoring mechanisms, dam visual inspection and instrumental readings and analysis put in place to save lives and evacuate to safety.

Prof Kindiki said that so far, more than 30,000 people have been affected by floods in Garissa, 25,000 in Kitui, 3,000 in Embu and about 2,000 in Tharaka Nithi County as the floods continue to wreak havoc.

The CS also noted that the government would also continue undertaking a security risk assessment at the settlements contiguous to Masinga, Kamburu, Kindaruma, Gitaru and Kiambere Dams for public safety contingency planning to mitigate against the risks posed by the rains.

He has since urged citizens countrywide to adhere and comply with safety precautions and instructions issued by National Government Administration Officers and other officials to avert further loss of lives.