Mombasa: County Commissioner (CC) Mohammed Noor has directed Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs across Mombasa 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 emphasized the importance of preventing waste from obstructing drainage channels, ensuring water flows freely to the ocean without illegal structures impeding its path.
According to Kenya News Agency, Chiefs have been instructed to collaborate with the Mombasa County Government’s Environmental Department. This partnership aims to issue notices for the demolition of structures blocking water flow, with warnings that such structures could be destroyed by floodwaters if not removed promptly. Extensive planning has been undertaken in anticipation of the El Ni±o rains, particularly for flood-prone areas like Ziwa la Ngombe. The county has allocated social halls as temporary shelters for displaced residents, supported by budgetary provisions.
The National Disaster Management Committee has been informed for additional support, alongside partners such as the Kenya Red Cross. Noor assured residents of adequate medical supplies to combat waterborne illnesses like cholera, which often follow stagnant floodwater. ‘As the El Ni±o season begins, we are on high alert to serve residents in every way on health, drainage, and public engagement,’ he stated. Chiefs and village elders are tasked with direct community engagement, as disaster response may be necessary even at night.
Emergency response plans, including ambulances, have been established, providing residents with assurance of Mombasa County’s preparedness. ‘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,’ Noor concluded.
