100 families spend night in the cold after fierce winds rip off house roofs

Children playing around the electricity pole that fell on the house within Kisimani area of Kisauni sub county following heavy rains that have been hitting coast region in this picture taken on 6 May 2015. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The villagers said the nightmare started at around 10pm on Tuesday when they were preparing to go to bed amid heavy rains.
  • One of the affected villagers, Mr Samson Kazungu, told journalists that he had gone to bed when he heard a sound like a waterfall before the roof of his three-bedroom house was ripped off and flung five metres awa
  • Kenya Ferry Service Managing Director Musa Hassan said the situation was worsened by the breakdown of two ferries, the MV Nyayo and MV Harambee.

More than 100 families at Kaereni Village spent the night in the cold after heavy rains and strong winds destroyed their houses.

The damage to property is estimated at around Sh9 million.

The villagers said the nightmare started at around 10pm on Tuesday when they were preparing to go to bed amid heavy rains.

They said suddenly, there was a bolt of lightning followed by deafening thunder and strong winds that blew off the roofs of 17 houses in five villages.

One of the affected villagers, Mr Samson Kazungu, told journalists that he had gone to bed when he heard a sound like a waterfall before the roof of his three-bedroom house was ripped off and flung five metres away.

“I quickly sent the children to a neighbour and stayed awake the whole night in the cold,” said Mr Kazungu.

“I estimate my losses to be about Sh200,000. The children’s school uniforms were also blown away and I am still looking for them,” he said.

Mr Alex Kombe, whose roof was thrown about 200 metres away, said he had never witnessed such a shocking happening.

He appealed to the government to assist them. “We don’t know what to do. The situation is not good at all,” Mr Kombe said.

His mother, Ms Kabibi Kombe, also asked for help from the government. “I am stranded and the children have not been able to go to school,” she said.

Tezo Ward Representative Cosmas Foleni visited the villages to assess the damage. “The damage is worth about Sh9 million as many of the houses were built of stone. Cashew nut trees have also been brought down. We are asking the government to assist the people who spent the night in the cold,” he said.

The ward representative also promised to ask the county disaster management team to assist.

“We are also going to meet Red Cross officials in the county to brief them on the terrible situation,” he said. For the last two days, Kilifi has experienced heavy rains which have disrupted lives in parts of the county.

On the Bamba-Kilifi highway, motorist were stranded near Ganze trading centre after vehicles got stuck in mud.

In Mombasa, rains continued to wreak havoc for the third day yesterday, with some estates remaining cut off by floodwaters.

Thousands of drenched commuters were stranded on the mainland side of the Likoni channel as they waited for ferries to cross to the island.

Kenya Ferry Service Managing Director Musa Hassan said the situation was worsened by the breakdown of two ferries, the MV Nyayo and MV Harambee.

“We are waiting for spares for the MV Nyayo from abroad,” he said.

In Buxton Estate, at least four housing blocks have been cut off from the rest of the town.

“We are marooned and cannot venture outdoors unless we swim,” said resident Maurice Mae.

“This estate is under water because the drainage system has been neglected for years,” he said.

The slums of Bangladesh, Kaa Chonjo, Mburu Kenge, Owino-Uhuru, Muoroto and parts of Kisauni and Likoni were also reported to be flooded.