By Lauryne Akoth
The government has ordered the immediate evacuation of residents close to 178 dams citing concerns that these dams are nearing capacity and could potentially overflow in the near future.
The Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has urged the residents near the 178 dams to relocate within 24 hours effective today failure to which the government will be compelled to evacuate them forcibly if necessary.
“One hundred and seventy-eight (178) Dams and Water reservoirs situated on Public and Private land in thirty-three (33) Counties have filled up or are nearly filled up and may spill over any time, posing a high risk to persons living in their neighborhood,” noted the Ministry of Interior.
“All persons residing contiguous to the dams and water reservoirs are ordered to vacate the said areas immediately and in any case, within 24 Hours effective today, failing which they will be subjected to mandatory evacuation for their safety,” read the Ministry’s statement in part.
The public has been cautioned of ongoing rains that are expected to increase in duration and intensity. The Ministry noted that the situation could get worse because the soils countrywide are fully saturated.
The County Security and Intelligence Committees (CISCs) in every county have been instructed to consistently oversee regions prone to mudslides, such as Nandi, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Murang’a, Nyeri, Machakos, and Makueni.
Their responsibility includes identifying specific locations where compulsory evacuation orders might be necessary.
The complete list of the 178 dams is available at https://t.co/9DWXyShsvO
The Interior CS assured that the government has put measures in place to provide temporary shelter, food, and non-food items to all who will be affected by the vacation and evacuation orders.
“Mandatory evacuation of affected persons shall be carried out strictly between 0600 hours and 1830 hours, and for the avoidance of doubt, no mandatory evacuation shall be carried out at night,” noted the Ministry of Interior.
In addition to the directives issued to residents near the 178 dams, all individuals living within the 30-meter riparian zone of rivers and other water bodies nationwide have also been instructed to evacuate immediately for their safety.
Moreover, directives were issued to dismantle any settlements unlawfully established on riparian land.