The Mombasa County Disaster Management Committee on Thursday held an emergency meeting to assess the extent of destruction caused by the on-going heavy rains in the region and other parts of the country.
Reports presented in the meeting chaired by the County Commissioner (CC), Evans Achoki shows 20 villages have been affected by floods and over 500 people displaced.
Besides human suffering, the rains have also adversely affected key facilities such as Baricho Water Works and treatment plant in Malindi, Moi International Airport, schools and several roads within the county.
Two boreholes at the Baricho water plant have been destroyed which has resulted to acute water shortage in Kilifi and Mombasa counties.
The two are among eight boreholes at the water plant that normally supplies 90,000 m3 per day to Malindi, Kilifi and Mombasa.
Following the destruction of the two boreholes, the water supply has reduced to 50,000 m3 per day which has forced the Coast Water Services Board (CWSB) to ration water in the two counties.
According to the CWSB Procurement Manager, Stanslus Jira, the water body requires Sh.1.5 billion to restore the two damaged boreholes.
“We have approached the Ministry of Devolution and Arid and Semi-Arid Land to help us with the funds to repair the two boreholes,’ said Jira during the meeting which brought together officials from government departments, parastatals, Red Cross and other stakeholders.
The New Hope Secondary School at Tudor has been closed due to floods and 300 students have been sent home.
Parts of Mombasa and its environs have been rendered inaccessible following days of heavy rains in the county causing massive floods in both residential areas and the Central Business District (CBD).
The situation has been compounded by the lack of working drainage system as the floods left scores of residents in low-lying areas inundated and marooned in their homes.
The Mombasa County Director of Meteorological Department, Lydiah Inoti told the meeting that the heavy downpour will continue throughout the month of May.
She described the on-going heavy rains in the coastal region and other parts of the country as above normal and attributed this to climate change.
Achoki advised residents living in slum areas to move to safer grounds to avoid being swept away by mudslides and floods.
He mentioned Kalahari, Mikindani and Jomvu as among more vulnerable areas during heavy rains.
“Persistent nature of the rain could result in dangerous flooding in some low lying areas on the seaside city,” added Achoki.
The CC assured all those affected that the government will assist them with relief food, non-food items, medicine and other supplies.
By Mohamed Hassan
