Kindiki Issues Guidelines on Mandatory Evacuations for Kenyans Affected by Floods

In a statement, the CS directed for the evacuations to be conducted between 6 am and 6:30 pm. He maintained that evacuations would be done during the night hours.

Further, he noted that the government would be notifying the affected Kenyans before the exercise is undertaken.

“National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) are directed to work with County Governments, Humanitarian Organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that the process of notification, vacation and mandatory evacuation, as well as provision of temporary shelter, food and non-food essential supplies, is carried out in a timely, humane and effective way,” the CS directed.

On the other hand,  those living near riparian land were ordered to vacate their homes immediately given that many water sources were breaking their banks.

Kindiki also directed Kenyans living near private and public dams to vacate with immediate effect.

“178 dams and water reservoirs situated on Public and Private land in 33 counties have filled up or are nearly filled up and may spill over at any time, posing a high risk to persons living in their neighbourhood,” he directed

“All persons residing within the 30-metre riparian corridor of rivers and other water courses across the Country are ordered to vacate immediately for their safety and settlements unlawfully established on riparian land removed.”

Meanwhile, the CS noted that government agencies were also coordinating to ensure that the affected Kenyans are temporarily sheltered in land owned by government agencies.

Food and non-food items are also being distributed to those affected by the floods.

In recent weeks, thousands of Kenyans have lost their homes and property owing to floods and landslides. This had been occasioned by the heavy rains that have been witnessed in the last two weeks.

Over 100 Kenyans have also lost their lives in the aftermath of the heavy rains.

Notably, according to the Kenya Meteorological Department parts of the country will continue to witness above-average rainfall over the next three months.