A year after flash floods tore through villages in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, leaving destruction and heartbreak in their wake, hope has finally returned for some of the hardest-hit families.
18 households, who collectively lost 25 loved ones in the April 29, 2024 disaster, have now been handed keys to newly constructed two-bedroom homes, marking a pivotal moment in their long journey to recovery.
The resettlement, spearheaded by Rotary International and the Scann Foundation, was celebrated in an emotional handover ceremony where tears of grief blended with gratitude.
Survivors, many of whom had spent the past year in makeshift shelters or with relatives, now have a permanent place to call home.
The tragedy began when a railway tunnel which had been blocked was overwhelmed by days of relentless rainfall, causing its bursts in the dead of night.
The move caused a wall of destructive water from the upper Kijabe area to spill over downstream to neighbouring landscapes, flattening homes, schools, and businesses.
The incident led to more than 60 people dead, over 100 families displaced, and essential infrastructure including roads and bridges being swept away.
Beyond the immediate toll, the floods had exposed critical failures in infrastructure oversight and disaster preparedness even after hawk-eyed residents flagged the expected danger.
Investigations later revealed that the collapsed dam had not been properly maintained or inspected, raising questions about regulatory accountability.
In the days following the disaster, government officials pledged swift action from compensation to resettlement and infrastructure repair.
Bernard Ndungu, who lost both of his sons and his home in the floods said over the past year, he felt forgotten after months of being resettled.
Ndungu said although the government through the president promised swift interventions and resettlement, the plans are yet to be actualised.
According to Rotary’s Nakuru regional coordinator, Job Okello, the resettlement initiative was not without challenges such as navigating bureaucracy and securing land approvals.
Scann Foundation’s Shamsher Girani, who played a key role in mobilizing resources, revealed that Sh7.9 million was spent on building and furnishing the homes.
Naivasha MP Jane Kihara acknowledged the slow government response, attributing delays to high land prices and legal disputes over suitable resettlement areas.
She also raised concerns about the long-term viability of some affected farmlands, many of which were rendered infertile after topsoil erosion.
“We need not just to resettle people but to restore their livelihoods,” Kihara said, calling for greater investment in rebuilding essential infrastructure.
Mai Mahiu MCA Eliud Kamau urged the government to prioritize the reconstruction of damaged roads, bridges, and schools which are key components for the area’s economic revival.
According to Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki who led an empowerment event in Naivasha, the government is committed to its promise to resettle affected families.
Prof. Kindiki said the plans had been delayed due to an increase in land prices in the area which were not in tandem with the authority’s valued land prices.
The government had earmarked a budgetary allocation of over Sh200 million for the resettlement exercise for hundreds of families.
A month ago, tens of evangelical pastors in Mai Mahiu who visited the affected areas called for swift resettlement of all families.
The pastors noted that the families had suffered for over one year, withstanding months of mental grief and trauma over the loss of lives and property.
By Erastus Gichohi
