The Mt Kenya Times 
A house destroyed in Mafia Island as a result of Cyclone Hidaya
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- Today I announce that we are also going to give Sh10,000 to each of 40,000 families affected as we look for a permanent solution to this recurring problem of floodings. He also announced that the government has released Sh1 billion for the reconstruction of damaged schools in Nairobi. We are also doing the same in other parts of the country.
- Back to Gikungu’s statement, the people of Coast breathed a sigh of relief a few days later when he stated that the cyclone Hidaya no longer posed a serious threat.
- The cyclone strength had gone down after hitting Mafia Island. Before, I had posed. Is Kenya staring at Hidaya cyclone? God forbid.
A few days ago, the director of Meteorological Department David Gikungu issued a new alert. The Coast region is going to experience what he called tropical Hidaya Cyclone.
This rare phenomenon is composed of heavy rains, strong winds, strong oceanic tides/waves and thunderstorms.
The situation in other parts of the country is also going to escalate. He spoke as official report indicated that heavy torrential rains and floodings had so far claimed the lives of more than 200 people.
Apparently, this is one of the reasons that prompted President William Ruto to postpone the reopening of schools. He also acted on the strength of reports filed by the county and regional directors of education.
The floods had caused massive damage to school infrastructures in some parts of the country. The reconstruction of these schools have started.
Once this work is completed and we are sure the lives of school going children are safe, the ministry of education will announce the new dates of opening schools.
President Ruto later visited Mathare, Eastleigh and other parts of Nairobi that had been affected my floods.
He told the victims. I’m happy to note that my interventions have borne the fruits.
The first step was to evacuate you from flood prone areas and providing with temporary shelter as well as food and non-food items. We have already done this.
Today I announce that we are also going to give Sh10,000 to each of 40,000 families affected as we look for a permanent solution to this recurring problem of floodings. He also announced that the government has released Sh1 billion for the reconstruction of damaged schools in Nairobi. We are also doing the same in other parts of the country.
Back to Gikungu’s statement, the people of Coast breathed a sigh of relief a few days later when he stated that the cyclone Hidaya no longer posed a serious threat.
The cyclone strength had gone down after hitting Mafia Island. Before, I had posed. Is Kenya staring at Hidaya cyclone? God forbid.
Earlier, I had an opportunity to listen to the remarks of the leaders of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition.
Reacting to the pain and suffering that those affected were going through, the leaders resorted to blame game and politicization.
One of them stated: You heard President William Ruto saying there will be no El Nino rains. The El Nino rain is now here with us.
The government seemed ill-prepared to deal with the menace.
They spoke as President William visited Mai Mahiu where he personally led the rescue operation. The devastating deluge in that area had by then claimed the lives of 46 people.
To me, this was not the time of blame game. This was the time of supporting the efforts by the government to save lives. I also want to say this without fear of contradiction.
The claims by Azimio leaders were totally misleading and designed to settle political scores with the President.
I listened very carefully to what prompted the President to make ‘no El Nino’ remarks.
He spoke after warning issued by the Director of Meteorological Department and dates when the rains will start failed to bear the fruits.
As a President, his first priority is to save lives of Kenyans and their properties. So, it was not his wish to see this rains pounding, killing people and destroying thier livelihoods.
He would not however backpedal. He continued to organize and put the national disaster management teams on high alert.
So, Azimio’s claims that the government had been caught off-guard did not hold any.
As the President set disaster operation centers, he was privy to the fact God’s plan is not man’s plan.
A few days ago President William Ruto stated that his government has suspended all other engagements.
The lives of our people are precious and more important than anything else. So, all our eyes are now trained on rescuing those affected by flood. We have also allocated more financial resources to deal with this menace.
The Government spokesperson had at around the same time disclosed the number of Kenyans who had lost their lives and those displaced.
Those who perished had been swept by raging flood waters. Others succumbed to mudslides and landslides and after their houses were marooned and submerged in waters.
The situation could have been worse if the government had not put in place elaborate measures to deal with the disaster.
Before the ongoing heavy rainfall started, President William Ruto had assigned his deputy to steer the National Disaster Management Committee.
The committee which have since been working closely with the county governments embarked on the following; resource mobilization, setting up quick response teams, unclogging the drainage system and mapping out the hotspots areas.
I’m sure many would agree with me this time the situation is being exacerbated by Mother Nature.
I want to give an example of the flooding of Thika Super Highway. As we know, this road had been built by the world’s renowned Chinese contractor. We have also seen the waters in Masinga dam and Kiambere spilling over.
Kenya is not the only country that has witnessed this phenomenon that is attributed to negative effects of climate change.
In some countries, the magnitude of these disasters would be worse.
Hundreds of the people would lose their lives and thousands would be displaced. Besides losing valuables, their houses would be destroyed and flattened by the floods and strong wind.
As a result, the humanitarian crisis would reach unmanageable level.
Here in Kenya we have not reached there.
Notably, the role of disaster management is not only confined to the national government. The counties are also required to play an active role.
As we now, the national government allocate money to the counties’ disaster and emergency kitties. One would therefore expect the governors to immediately release the money to mitigate the effects of floodings.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga Is A Writer And Political Analyst Based In Nairobi
Similar Posts by The Mt Kenya Times:
- Kenya built a currency control before it needed one
- Katiba@16: What the constitution has meant in my own life
- Chelsea agree deal to sign Martínez from Aston Villa
- Ochieng’ makes his mark at the Bernabéu
- The unfinished covenant: Operationalizing Articles 48 and 54 in Kenya’s Construction Adjudication: A call from the concrete barricades
About the Author
