The Lamu County Government has issued a flood alert urging Lamu road users to exercise caution when using the Lamu-Witu-Garissa Highway over fears that sections of the road could be flooded due to heavy rainfall experienced across the country.
Speaking in Lamu today, during the nationwide tree planting exercise, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy revealed that the county government had already issued an advisory for road users plying the highway, noting that the Gamba-Witu section has already begun flooding.
In December last year, Lamu road users were affected and could not use that section of the road which was cut off by floods, leading road users to have to use canoes and boats to go over the 5-kilometre stretch that was cut off by floods.
Passengers travelling to Lamu from Mombasa were being forced to pay as much as Sh400 for boat rides to cross a section of the Gamba-Lamu road that has been washed away by floods.
The Gamba-Witu road being cut off is also likely to affect businesses, with fuel prices likely to soar due to the lack of access by oil tankers to the county.
The Governor stated that measures are already being put in place to ensure that those affected by the floods move to higher ground and are provided with humanitarian supplies as well.
Fears are also rife that the coming floods could lead to a rise in waterborne diseases such as typhoid in areas such as Moa and Chalaluma location.
“The county government is working closely with the national government to ensure that repair and rehabilitation works are underway to repair affected areas of the road,” he stated.
Sentiments were echoed by Acting Lamu County Commissioner Charles Kitheka, who stated that the government was actively working towards ensuring the Gamba-Witu section was addressed, with KENHA having already issued a tender for works to commence on the road.
“The Lamu-Witu-Garsen Highway is a priority project, especially since it connects with the Lamu Port,” he stated, adding that efforts are underway to ensure that a contractor is brought on site to commence repair works.
By Amenya Ochieng
