Mombasa County Commissioner (CC), Mohammed Noor, has directed Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs across the County to intensify engagement with residents on flood preparedness, warning that blocked drains could see floodwater return into homes once the rains intensify.
CC Noor said residents must stop dumping waste into drainage channels and ensure that water is able to flow freely into the ocean in every neighbourhood, with no illegal structures or walls obstructing its path.
He said Chiefs have been instructed to work closely with the Mombasa County Government’s Environmental Department, which is issuing notices for the demolition of walls and structures found to be blocking water flow, warning that such structures risk being brought down forcefully by floodwater if not removed in time.
Noor said extensive planning has gone into the county’s response to the anticipated El Niño rains, particularly for known flood-prone areas such as Ziwa la Ngombe. He said the county has set aside social halls to serve as temporary shelters for residents who may be displaced or whose homes are flooded, with budgetary allocations already made to support the response.
The matter has also been forwarded to the National Disaster Management Committee for additional support, alongside partners such as the Kenya Red Cross, he said.
Noor said the county has stocked adequate medicine in anticipation of waterborne illnesses such as cholera that typically follow stagnant floodwater, with assurances from the county government that supplies are sufficient.
“As the El Niño season begins, we are on high alert to serve residents in every way on health, drainage, and public engagement,” he said, adding that chiefs and village elders have been tasked with going out to engage communities directly, noting that disaster response may be required even at night.
He said ambulances and emergency response arrangements have also been discussed and put in place. Residents were assured that Mombasa County has prepared adequately for the season.
“We know disaster is a difficult thing, not something that can be fully alleviated. But we will make every effort to ensure lives are not lost and that residents’ property is protected,” he said.
By Joan Kinuthia
