State and Kilifi County Government Line Up Measures of Mitigating Possible Floods.

By Robby Ngoba.

The national and Kilifi County governments are working with disaster management agencies to mitigate possible flooding along the River Sabaki due to ongoing heavy rains pounding the upcountry areas.

Communities residing along the river have been frequent victims of flash floods that have displaced thousands and claimed many lives as well as destroying homes and farmland.

Stakeholders from Magarini Subcounty Disaster Risk Management Committee led by the Deputy County Commissioner Micahel Ololtua said that the area which is currently experiencing drought is anticipating flash floods from waters coming from up country area and has since mobilized resources to tackle and mitigate its effects.

“We have met as the Disaster Risk Management Committee with membership drawn from various stakeholders among them the Kilifi County government and Kenya Red Cross to deliberate on the ongoing drought and also on the possible flash floods along the river Sabaki,” he said.

“The floods that threatened the Sabaki river is not rains from this area but it is rain in upcountry areas. This area expects rains towards the end of the month and we have noticed water levels rising at the river and we are putting measures to ensure that we do not lose lives.”

Ololtua warned residents of possible hippopotamus and snake attacks when the river over flows and breaks its banks and called them to move on higher grounds.

“Among our preparations is that we have enough shelter material for anyone who will be displaced and we have identified possible camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP). We have enough medicine, enough rescue personnel and also food and non food items,” he added.

Magarini which has ten locations has borne the devastating effects of floods in the past where villages were marooned, people and animals were swept by the raging floods and thousand of acres of farmland destroyed by the floods.

In 2018, more than 4,000 households in the area were displaced forcing the government to deploy the Kenya Defense Forces helicopters and divers who joined in the rescue mission.

Among areas most affected are Singwaya, Garashi, Masindeni, Mikuyuni, Bate, Mitsunguni, Burangi, Chakama, Shakahola, Baricho among others.

Japhet Chengo, the assistant director special programs and disaster management in Kilifi County said that all was set for to ensure that there was little disruption of livelihoods during floods.