The county government of Murang’a in partnership with Kenya Red Cross Society has issued cash and food stuff totaling to Sh. 23 million to 270 households affected by floods and landslides.
On Monday, the families received financial and material assistance at Ihura stadium in Murang’a town, an exercise that was presided over by Governor Irungu Kang’ata.
The households are among 344 families across the county that have been affected by the ongoing heavy rains, with some being displaced by floods and landslides.
Kang’ata said the 270 households were identified as greatly affected by the devastating floods adding the remaining families will get help in the second phase.
“In the first phase, we are supporting 270 households and also what we are giving is small compared to the loss the families have undergone. The county government will continue to give support to all the affected people to ensure they get back to their normal lives,” stated the Governor.
The mostly affected families are from Ithanga, Ruchu, Gitugi, Township, Gaturi, Muguru, Rwathia, Kanyenyaini and Gitugi wards.
Those from the upper zones of the county, mostly their houses and farms, were destroyed by land and mudslides forcing some to seek refuge in safer grounds.
Ngutu primary school in Mathioya is currently hosting 30 households that were affected by a landslide at Kiganjo village, a disaster that claimed six lives.
Kang’ata said with the help of the national government among other well-wishers, they will continue to support the displaced families saying some of the households will need land to shift to.
“The county assisted by the Red Cross has assessed the total cost for various interventions and arrived at the overall cost of Sh161.9 million.
“This amount will cater for food stuff, non-food stuff items, infrastructural support, and medical assistance, compensation for lost farm crops and livestock; and rehabilitation of destroyed houses,” he detailed.
Speaking during the same occasion, the County Red Cross Coordinator Immaculate Iteba explained that the families that received support were chosen through a process spearheaded by the organization which considered factors like the level of damage caused and the assistance needed.
She noted a team has been deployed to various sub counties to assess the damage caused by the rains and advise the number of residents who need help.
“The process of assessing the damage caused by the rains is still going on and we will visit homes of affected families and advise the kind of assistance they need. On today’s occasion the greatly affected families are getting help as we continue to list more other households which need help.
“Currently we have two rescue centres, one at Ngutu primary school and another one at Makuyu. The families at the centres are receiving humanitarian assistance spearheaded by the Red Cross,” she added.
The county commissioner Joseph Nkanatha assured the victims of the government’s support saying the national government is partnering with the county administration to ensure the affected families get assistance to rebuild their lives.
Nkanatha cautions residents who have a tendency of crossing swollen rivers saying raging waters have swept away a number of locals.
“Few days ago disaster management teams from various bodies managed to retrieve the body of a Kirinyaga business man from river Sagana, where his vehicle plunged 10 days ago. Our advice to people is to avoid crossing swollen rivers and those in landslide prone areas,” he added.
By Bernard Munyao and Anita Omwenga
