Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has called out politicians for turning the recent national disasters into political gimmicks.
Taking to social media on Sunday, Wamuchomba urged politicians from both ends of the divide to help without using it as an opportunity to push their reelection agendas.
She highlighted the Chesongoch mudslide disaster in Elgeyo Marakwet and the Lake Naivasha flooding in Kihooto, stating that for such victims, it did not matter who offered the help, just that it was offered.
As such, she urged fellow politicians to leave their cameras at home while conducting such humanitarian acts.
“Let’s agree for once! Cameras at home; let’s help the Naivasha Kihooto and Elgeyo Marakwet disaster victims without two-term and one-term madness,” Wamuchomba stated. “The victims don’t mind a blanket from whatever side.”
This follows back-to-back disasters that have left the two areas, both in the Rift Valley region, susceptible to leaders utilising their plight as a photo op.
In Nakuru County, the swelling waters from Lake Naivasha have displaced thousands of residents and submerged homes in the Kihooto Estate in Naivasha Town.
This flooding has not only caused widespread destruction but has also forced many residents, among them women, children and elderly persons, to flee to safety.
While visiting the region on Thursday, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika relayed that at least 4,000 people had been left stranded, but her administration had successfully moved 2,000.
“I was deeply moved by the plight of women and children stranded in flooded houses deep within Kihoto Estate, in urgent need of evacuation,” she said.
"We have brought in more tippers to assist in evacuating and transporting affected families to safer shelters. So far, we have successfully evacuated over 2,000 people."
In Elgeyo Marakwet, dozens were left dead when two mudslides hit back-to-back last weekend, and others were left hospitalised and displaced.
As of Saturday, November 8, a week after the mudslides, 37 people had been declared dead, nine were hospitalised, and 11 more were missing, signalling a likely higher death toll.
