NAIROBI, Kenya
Kenya government has directed County Security and Intelligence Committees (CSICs) across the country to inspect all public and private dams and water reservoirs by 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Interior Cabinet Secretary
Kithure Kindiki on Monday directed the committees to thereafter recommend cases
where compulsory evacuation and temporary resettlement orders should be issued.
This is in the wake of Monday
morning’s incident where a dam burst its banks in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, and
wiped out homes and vehicles, killing over 45 people.
The floodwaters originated
from a nearby river that broke its banks in after heavy rainfall, according to
the Red Cross.
The interior minister directed
counties to deploy enforcement teams at road spots prone to flooding and that
water has breached the bridge to prevent motorists or pedestrians from
dangerous crossing.
“… arrest and prosecute
offenders for attempted suicide and/or attempted murder as the facts of the
case may be,” Kindiki said.
Further, the enforcement teams
will bar transportation of passengers across flooded rivers or storm water by
canoes or boats deemed unsafe.
“Prevent the transportation of
passengers across flooded rivers or storm water by unsafe canoes or boats and
arrest inexperienced and unscrupulous persons taking advantage of the
prevailing situation to cash in on persons in distress,” the minister added.
Police said over 100 people
were rescued and treated at Mai Mahiu health centre after the 4 a.m. dam burst
incident while 32 others were referred to Naivasha sub-county hospital.
The incident brought to over
100 the number of people who have died from flooding amid heavy rains
experienced in most of Kenya since March.
No comments:
Post a Comment