As weatherman warns that the ongoing rains will increase, many of Garissa residents express concern that they fall victim to imminent floods.
Residents said some affluent individuals have erected structures along the riparian zone that may block waterways completely.
Residents want Kenya government to construct a proper drainage system to prevent flooding during the rainy season.
The most affected areas are Bulla Masalani, Bulla Bashal, Windsor and Bulla Slaughter. Residents fear waterborne diseases outbreak.
Water levels in the River Tana may sometimes steadily rise and break the banks of the river.
Interior minister Fred Matiang’i urged the residents likely to be affected by the floods to cooperate with the local administration and heed the warnings issued by the government.
“This is about our lives, it is not about the government. I want to urge the civic leaders to help move people to safer grounds,” Dr Matiang’i said.
“We are working with governors in Tana River and Garissa to ensure that people move to higher grounds. We must not lose lives again,” Dr Matiang’i said.
The three dams, which are holding millions of cubic meters of water, are expected to start overflowing in the next two days, posing a major risk to people living around them.
