Residents of Mwana Mukia village in Ruiru, Kiambu County are now living in fear of displacement by floods following the looming El Nino rains.
Last week the Kenya Meteorological Department warned that above-average rain is expected in various parts of the country in October-November-December.
Led by John Macharia Maina, a Nyumba Kumi official, the villagers claim that their floods predicament was caused by the construction of the Thika Superhighway when the contractor reportedly diverted water harvested from Thika Super Highway to their village.
According to the residents the water culverts put up by the government to prevent flash floods following the diversion have been ineffective causing water to break into their homes.
“As other people enjoy the Thika Superhighway infrastructure, we rebuke it everyday as water from it is directed to this village. The established drainage systems here are very weak to handle the water. We actually pray all the time that it does not rain as rain to us is a serious disaster,” stated Macharia.
Jane Wanjiku, a local who settled in the village in 1977 decried that the flash-floods expose their children waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid whenever they happen.
“We want help. The government should destroy the existing culverts as they don’t help us. They should be replaced with modern-day and huge culverts which can handle much water,” said Wanjiku.
David Njuguna, another resident on the other hand asked the National and the County governments to stop the blame games and solve the issue.
“Since Thika Superhighway was constructed, Mwana-Mukia residents have been subjected to annual displacements. The county and national governments have been blaming each other for the mess and no one wants to give a permanent solution to this issue. We want action as early as now before the heavy rains come,” said Njuguna.
Ruiru MP Simon King’ara acknowledged that the situation is dire and requires prompt intervention by the government.
King'ara further urged the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNha) to act on the issue immediately.
“The government of the day cares for its citizenry and as such, I am certain it will work on this challenge. The available drainage system is not effective and this challenge only started when the busy highway was built. (KeNha) should take this issue seriously by immediately offering a lasting solution to the matter,” said King’ara.
