Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua has weighed in on the ongoing floods in the country that have so far claimed over 100 lives.
She listed five interventions she believes if implemented will mitigate effects of the floods and avert further loss of lives and property.
In a statement on Monday, Karua condoled families who have lost their loved ones and those whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the floods.
"We take note that the administration has asked for an assessment of all dams countrywide to assess their condition following the breach of Kijabe dam last evening and its devastating effect, which includes the loss of over one hundred lives, soaring the numbers of the lives lost in the floods to close to two hundred," Karua stated.
She said the rains are a natural phenomenon that the country cannot claim control over.
She, however, said the government should prepare and protect the people at risk.
Karua wants the government to re-evaluate the postponement period of schools' reopening to enhance the safety of learners in learning facilities and allow for the safe relocation of families using schools as shelters.
The government postponed the reopening of schools to Monday, May 6, citing significant effect of the heavy rains on most schools.
Karua also wants the government to allocate emergency funding to all the affected families and further support their resettlement once the rains subside.
According to the Narc party leader, there should be a mandatory waiver of document replacement, such as national IDs, for those who have lost their documents in the floods.
She also asked the government to waive school fees and support school supplies for children affected by the floods.
Karua called on the government to also undertake a comprehensive assessment of the entire drainage basins from the source to the ocean.
According to her, this will enable long-term planning of interventions to mitigate flooding in areas around human settlements.
She called on the government to respond swiftly to evacuate and provide adequate shelter and amenities to affected Kenyans.
Karua said that the government should suspend non-priority spending and attend to urgent needs such as the doctors' and the flood victims.
"I call upon Kenyans of goodwill who have the means and opportunity to join community organisations that have undertaken commendable efforts to offer relief to those affected by the floods," she said.
"It gives me hope that Kenyans, despite the dire circumstances we face, are able to come together and do incredible things."
Karua said floods in most areas are attributed not just to the torrential rains pounding the city but also to the breach of dams such as the Maingi Dam in the Kihara ward of Kiambaa constituency.
She said the Kijabe dam tragedy in Mai Mahiu would have been avoided had the National and County governments taken action sooner.
"We hope the directive to assess the security of all dams countrywide will be acted on with the urgency it deserves to avert further loss of lives, property and displacement," Karua said.
"It is the duty of this government to respond swiftly to evacuate and provide adequate shelter and amenities to those affected," she added.