Key orders given by CS Kindiki to mitigate flood situation

As floods continue to wreak havoc across the country, the government, through various humanitarian agencies and organizations, continues to implement mitigation efforts for those affected.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, led by Professor Kithure Kindiki, is at the center of ensuring that nothing is left to chance, with regular updates on new developments as rescue efforts continue.

This continues even as heavy rain is expected to continue over the next few days.

On Thursday, CS Kindiki said at least 178 dams across the country were full or almost full. These dams are spread across 33 counties.

He said the floods have caused loss of human life, destruction of families and business premises, death of livestock and destruction of significant tracts of farmland.

The CS ordered voluntary vacation or mandatory evacuation of all people living in the vicinity of the 178 dams and water reservoirs.

Mandatory evacuations, he said, will begin after 24 hours on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Kindiki, however, said there would be no evacuations at night.

“The mandatory evacuation of affected persons will be carried out strictly between 06:00 and 18:30 and, for the avoidance of doubt, no mandatory evacuation will be carried out at night.

The CS ordered the Regional Security and Intelligence Committees (CSIC) to continuously monitor other dams or water reservoirs throughout the country that may not present a risk now but could present one in the event of new rainfall.

He said the government will provide logistical support, food and essential non-food supplies to all those affected by the orders.

Kindiki added that all stakeholders, including humanitarian agencies, will be involved in the mandatory vacation and evacuation process.

The SC further ordered all people living in riverine corridors and within the 30-metre radius of rivers across the country to vacate immediately or be forcibly removed.

The Interior CS also ordered the removal of illegally constructed buildings within a 30-metre radius of the Nairobi rivers (Mathare, Ngong and Nairobi rivers).

He said the removal of these structures and buildings will begin immediately and that people living within the same radius should vacate them by 6:30 pm on Friday.

If they do not evacuate, they will be compulsorily removed from these high-risk areas.

The Nairobi Rivers operation will be supervised by the Nairobi County and Regional Security Teams together with the Nairobi City County Government and the multi-agency team under the auspices of the National Disaster Operations Center (NDOC).

Kindiki said the directives will be enforced by security agencies and with the support of the National Youth Service (NYS).