Governor calls for help as floods render Marsabit roads impassable

Heavy rains being witnessed in some parts of Marsabit county have rendered several roads impassable, greatly hampering transport activities.

Lorries carrying food have not been spared either as a majority of them are stranded in the middle of the road.

Marsabit County Governor Mohamud Ali on Tuesday accompanied by North-Horr mp Wario Guyo Adhe and Torbi-Bubisa ward MCA visited several areas affected by the floodwaters to assess the impact of El Nino rains.

They visited Shurr, Jaldesa, Deemo, Badan Rero and Ambalo.

On Wednesday the governor led county officials and leaders in assessing damages caused by heavy rains in Antuut, Qolob and Laaqi in Moyale constituency.

"My Government will take decisive action to aid our people during this hard time they were facing," Said Governor Ali.

"My administration in collaboration with the National Government and well-wishers is committed to addressing the challenges communities are facing."

He said hundreds of households across the county have been displaced and three people already died as a result of heavy rains.

"We call on partners and well-wishers to join the county government in supporting families that have been affected," he said

The governor said saving lives and reducing the impact of El Nino rains remain his administration's top priority.

He added that collaboration with the national government and well-wishers is the surest way of mitigating and responding to the emergencies.

While describing the situation as dire, he said the heavy downpour had claimed the lives of 3 people and displaced hundreds from their homes.

"We are in a situation where even people with money can't buy anything because the nearest towns are unreachable," he said.

The governor expressed fears that due to heavy rains, there are likely to be outbreaks of vector and waterborne diseases.

"Part of the help urgently needed from the national government and humanitarian agencies is the provision of mosquito nets. We are trying as much as we can to get medicine in our health facilities," said Governor Mohamud.

The county boss called on the National Government to fast-track the construction of mega dams to harvest rainy water.

This, he said, will go a long way in helping residents engage in farming and deal with the food situation since they have vast land.

Governor Ali urged residents to avoid walking in moving waters so as to avoid being swept away by the floodwaters and always be on the lookout for flash floods.

North-Horr mp Wario Guyo Adhe called for a coordinated approach in the ongoing heavy rains saying the biggest challenge that are currently facing is getting the relief items to areas within his constituency.

"What we are really facing is as a result of climate change. We need to continue preparing ourselves from policy perspective and institutional design perspectives to systematically respond to problem that are currently faced by the residents," he said

He thanked the county government for its response and urged the National Government and Non-state actors to support the county's efforts.

He cautioned residents still residing in flood-prone areas to move to higher ground.

Molu Abduba, a resident of Shurr appealed to the government to prioritize repairing roads in the area saying the situation worsens whenever it rains.

Roba Huka, a resident of Badan Rero said the ongoing rains have cut off their roads making it impossible for them to get support.

He called on both county and national governments to assist them with food and medicines.

Roba said if the government and well-wishers fail to come to their aid, Badan Rero and its environment would be in a very bad situation.