Mombasa sets aside Sh100m in readiness for El Niño
A flooded tunnel in Mombasa County in a picture taken on October 7, 2015. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- During the 1998 El Niño, people were marooned in more than 400 houses, a primary school and a social hall.
- Kenya Ports Authority and Kenya Airports Authority have been incorporated to provide equipment and other rescue facilities.
Mombasa County Government has set aside a Sh100 million emergency fund in preparation for the El Niño rains.
County executive for Land, Housing and Urban Planning Francis Thoya, who is a member of the disaster committee, said they county is ready to deal with any eventuality.
The assurance comes after more than 12,000 residents of the sprawling Bangladesh slums expressed fear that their houses might be submerged. The Meteorological Department has predicted that the rains could begin next week.
During the 1998 El Niño, people were marooned in more than 400 houses, a primary school and a social hall.
Bangladesh’s vice elder Sylvia Osodo said residents have not seen any preparations by the county government and have only heard about the rains through the media.
“Our efforts to sensitise people have not been successful. They have refused to move to higher ground because they have not seen any rains. The county government officials only came here once and registered some people. That is all they did,” she said on Friday.
Residents Joseph Otieno and Emma Onyango said the drainage system has collapsed.
“Bangladesh is a flood-prone area. More efforts should be made to convince the people to move from the lower ground to higher, safer places,” said Mr Otieno.
Among the most affected areas, the residents said, include Majengo, Giriamani Village, Bangladesh Centre, Kachimbeni, Mkupe and Nairobi Area.
Mr Thoya warned those staying on lower ground such as Mkupe River to move to avoid any disaster.
“We have activated our command centre at Maganlal in Tudor, we have formed disaster committees and rescue centres in all the six sub-counties. We have equipped health centres with malaria and cholera drugs,” he said.
The official added that the Kenya Ports Authority and Kenya Airports Authority have been incorporated to provide equipment and other rescue facilities, while the county Red Cross Society is on alert.
“We are working with all constituency offices, agencies and stakeholders to mitigate the potential effects of the El Niño rains,” he said.
