Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has advised residents in lowland and flood-prone areas to vacate their homes and move to higher grounds until the ongoing rain session is over.
Governor Achani said those in low-lying areas should consider relocating to higher grounds until the situation becomes normal.
She said the devolved unit was concerned about the lives and property of persons living in flood-prone areas as rains continue to batter the region.
The Governor also warned residents against blocking drainages with refuse in order to prevent further flooding and the loss of lives and properties.
She called on urban residents living close to major gutters and storm drains, culverts and bridges to move away to safeguard lives and property.
Numerous business premises and markets have been affected by the flooding with traders forced to evacuate and salvage their belongings from the rapid currents of the rainwater.
The ongoing deluge has also led to disruptions in crucial services in some areas such as access to drinking water, health, and electricity services.
Achani called on the urban dwellers to cease the practice of disposing waste into street gutters during rainfall noting that improper waste management worsens the flooding situation as it causes blockages that hinder the free flow of rainwater.
She also advised members of riverine communities to start moving to higher grounds as consistent downpours would increase the water levels of different rivers across the county.
Achani said special teams have been activated for repair of damaged roads, restoration of power lines, and health-related assistance.
The Governor pointed out that according to the weatherman, the coastal county will experience a few more weeks of rain before the end of the season.
In the last few weeks, the region has experienced heavy torrential rains leading to extensive flooding which caused havoc.
She appealed to residents engaged in farming activities along waterways to immediately avoid those areas for safety.
Some 680 families have been displaced and forced to abandon their homes due to widespread floods across the county and at least five persons have lost their lives in what local authorities say is the worst flooding in recent years.
Schools in the affected areas are currently occupied by internally displaced persons seeking shelter and it’s not known how many hectares of crops have been destroyed but many farmers told KNA that they had lost everything.
Those interviewed say aid agencies have been overwhelmed by the extent of the damage caused by the above normal rainfall and the response needs stronger coordination.
Those in areas hit the hardest said they had never before experienced such extreme weather causing severe damage and disrupting power supply in towns and villages posing risks to the population.
Governor Achani noted that the ongoing torrential rains have the potential of wreaking more havoc in parts of the coastal county.
The coastal county boss was speaking when she toured the worst affected areas in Msambweni Sub County where severe flooding also caused the destruction of huge tracts of farmlands.
She therefore urged residents, especially those living along the coastline where already fishing boats were destroyed, to brace themselves for more heavy rains in the days ahead.
“As a county, we are not out of the woods yet so we have to brace ourselves for more downpours before we come out of it,” she said.
Governor Achani revealed that the devolved government in close collaboration with the national government and humanitarian agencies are continuing to assess the situation and provide support and assistance to flood victims.
She urged residents to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines during this challenging period.
Environmentalists have long blamed blocked drainage systems and river courses, saturated soil, disregard for building plans in lowlands and climate change as the main causes of flooding.
Many factors contribute to severe flooding but experts say climate change caused by global warming makes extreme rainfall the new normal.
By Hussein Abdullahi
