Residents of flood-hit Kitui village in Kamukunji narrate ordeal, await assistance

Residents of Kitui Village in Kamukunji are in a somber mood as they grapple with the aftermath of Sunday night's floods.

Jackson Marwa finds himself standing amidst the debris of what was once his humble abode, unsure of where to even begin. He recounts the harrowing experience of that fateful night when the floodwaters invaded his home.

"I remember feeling water seeping into the house, and before long, it had risen to bed level," he recalls. "I managed to escape, but my attempts to rescue my neighbor were futile as he was swept away."

"The water overwhelmed me, and since it was dark, I was helpless. Everything I owned was swept away, leaving me with nothing and no idea of where to start," Jackson laments, reflecting on his decade-long stay in Majengo and the unprecedented scale of flooding he's witnessed.

"We haven't slept. We had to evacuate the children to the church and the field because there was nowhere else to go. Every available space was occupied," he says.

Some of the houses that were submerged in Kitui village in Kamukunji sub-county on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

Like many others, Jackson clings to hope that assistance will arrive to alleviate their suffering.

Christine Tisaga, on the other hand, stands before her ravaged home, unsure of how to proceed. "The water surged so swiftly that we barely had time to flee. God spared us, but everything we owned was swept away," she says tearfully.

"My eldest daughter missed her exams due to the disaster, as all her books and uniform were submerged and swept away. Now, we're struggling to afford medication for my youngest child, who has a cold."

Feeling overwhelmed and helpless, Christine grapples with the daunting task of rebuilding her life. "I wish we could relocate, but we lack the means to do so. Starting afresh seems impossible," she confesses.

While some tenants consider moving elsewhere, others remain stranded, unable to afford relocation. The sound of hammers echoes through the village as repair efforts begin, with residents scrambling to fortify their homes against future floods.

Some of the residents of Kitui village in Kamukunji sub-county, washing their clothes on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

Zadock Ochieng, another resident, toils tirelessly to salvage what he can from the wreckage.

"Sleep has eluded me since Sunday. Everything is soaked, but exhaustion weighs heavy, and I long for a moment of relief," he admits. "Moving to a better place is a dream, but as a manual laborer barely making ends meet, it remains out of reach."

Amidst the silence that pervades the village, residents quietly grapple with their losses, their belongings scattered in the river or washed away. The scale of displacement is staggering, with over 8,200 people in the Kamukunji Constituency affected by the floods that ravaged their homes.

While many parts of Kamukunji experienced flash floods, the most significant impacts were seen in informal settlement areas along the Nairobi River in Majengo and Kitui Village in Pumwani, Kinyago and Kanuku in California Ward, and Mugunda in Eastleigh South.

Kamukunji Sub-county Commissioner James Kamau describes this as one of the most severe floods to have struck Kamukunji in recent memory.

The heavy rainfall in Nairobi has tragically resulted in the loss of at least three lives and has displaced hundreds of people. Among the victims is a police officer from Kamukunji Police Station, who lost his life while attempting to rescue individuals trapped in the floods in Kitui Village.

At least 290 families have been displaced as a result. Despite their dire circumstances, many of these families cling to the hope that assistance will soon arrive.

Heavy rains experienced in Nairobi from Sunday night to Monday morning caused floods in different sections of the Central Business District, Westlands, Eastleigh, among others.

The aftermath of severe flooding in Kitui Village in Majengo, Kamukunji sub-county on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

County directives

In the aftermath of the destructive heavy rains, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced that the Nairobi County Disaster Management Team is taking charge of relief efforts to address the flooding crisis.

In a statement, he instructed the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company to dispatch water trucks to the affected regions and disclosed that Community Health Partners would extend assistance to affected households.

Governor Sakaja outlined that Green Nairobi will deploy 170 personnel from the Green Army to swiftly respond by clearing drains in flood-prone areas. Notably, some of these officers were observed actively unclogging drains along General Waruinge Street and other streets in Eastleigh.

Furthermore, Sakaja emphasized the deployment of specialized technical teams equipped with the necessary machinery to unclog sewers and cleanse drainage systems in the affected zones.

“The Disaster Management Team is working closely with the National Police Service, National Disaster Operations Centre, and the Red Cross to aid in search and rescue efforts for missing persons,” he said.

Sakaja said the County Disaster Management team has mapped out the most affected regions to monitor the situation. The hotspot areas include Kangemi, Mukuru kwa Rueben and Njenga, Kware, Kamukunji, Kayole, Viwandani and Njiru area.