Nairobi County Senator Edwin Sifuna has termed the deaths occurring in various parts of Nairobi County following the long rains as 'unnecessary'.
Speaking during an interview on Spice FM on Thursday, April 24, Sifuna blamed the county government, saying it needs to take certain actions to ensure the safety of residents.
“My team has been in contact with families to support them because this is the most unnecessary death in Nairobi. We all know that the rains would eventually come, and the county government needs to do certain things to make sure that people are safe,” he said.
His remarks come hours after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, during an interview on Citizen TV on Wednesday night, blamed the flooding on outdated drainage systems and a lack of funds.
Sakaja said that most drainage systems in the city were built for light, seasonal rain, not the heavy and constant rainfall Nairobi is now experiencing.
“The sheer amount of rain that is coming down is higher than ever before, and a lot of our drains were designed for a smaller capacity or for seasonal rain in the city,” Sakaja said.
He added that the county had deployed 3,800 young people, known as the “Green Army”, to collect garbage and unblock drainage systems to help reduce flooding in the city.
According to Sifuna, more than six people have died following the heavy rains and flooding in various parts of Nairobi.
“We are having this conversation today at a very difficult time for Nairobi. We have heard of the incident of death following the flooding that has happened in Nairobi. As of yesterday, we were counting upwards of six people who have lost their lives in various places in Nairobi,” Sifuna said.
He vowed to support the families of those who lost their lives due to the ongoing floods in different parts of Nairobi, stating that his team has already reached out to the affected families to offer assistance and calling the deaths unnecessary.
Sifuna also mentioned that he had recently brought a petition to the Senate requesting compensation and the involvement of communities living near rivers.
“Our people have no problem with moving to safer grounds. It is not a decision people make deliberately to live in a dangerous place. It is a decision they are pushed into because of their economic situation. You will find that the cheapest housing in Nairobi is also the most risky,” he explained.
“They have told me that they do not have a problem with moving. They just need to be involved, and the compensation that was promised, especially to those living along river corridors, has to be given,” he added.
