Nightmare of unending floods

 

The heavy rains pounding various parts of the country have left residents counting losses as flash floods cause damage to properties.

The torrential rains expected to continue this week have been a nightmare for many. Rivers have burst their banks submerging homes and displacing thousands while motorists have been left with no option but to wade through flooded roads.

Nairobians Wednesday morning woke up to flooded roads disrupting transport even as the traffic department announced the closure of key city roads.

The Kenya Red Cross has dispatched a rescue team to assess the situation in different parts of Nairobi and if need be initiate search and rescue operations.

“Many parts of Nairobi have experienced heavy rainfall overnight, resulting in flash floods in areas such as Mukuru, Mathare, Huruma, Ruaraka, Baba Dogo, Bosnia, Umoja 3, Choka, Njiru, Ruai, Utawala, Githurai, Kahawa, Eastern Bypass, Kinoo, Kijabe, Limuru, Ruiru, Graceland, Joska, Kaswito, Kicheko, Mangili, Kenyatta Road, Juja, Kitengela, and Magadi” the organisation said on X.

“Our response teams are on the ground in most of these areas, evacuating families to safety and providing other life-saving interventions” KRCS stated.

A rare occurrence was the overflow of the Kamiti River which flows between Kenyatta University and the Kahawa Garrison submerging part of the Thika superhighway at Kahawa Sukari area.

Motorists were forced to use the wrong side of the road leading to a traffic snarlup that lasted more than five hours.

The situation is the same in Mathare, Ruaka,  Kahawa West, Kitengela, Syokimau, Juja, Ruiru. Homeowners and tenants are grappling with sleepless nights after the rainwater destroyed their homes.

In Mathare slums, six people are reportedly missing. Athi River which has also burst its banks has accelerated the impacts resulting in the closure of key roads and bridges leading to heavy traffic.

The only bridge along Namanga Road connecting the road to Mombasa Road was completely submerged paralysing transport.

The heavy floods came from the upstream Ngong area flowing to Athi River township.

Hundreds of residents and passengers thronged the area to watch the phenomenon that last happened 10 years ago.

A bigger section of Athi River township was marooned with the rising waters sending panic in the area.

Dozens of families from nearby Kasoito slums were trapped in their residences by the floods.

A petrol station, business entities and motorists were completely marooned.

By Margaret Kalekye