Buna residents in Wajir decry state neglect as floods continue to wreak havoc

Residents of Buna in Wajir County now say that the government has neglected them as they continue to suffer from adverse effects of the El Nino rains that continue to wreak havoc in the area.

They say all the food that they had was swept away by the raging floodwaters leaving them with nothing to eat and nowhere to sleep as their houses have been left completely submerged.

The residents said that they suspect even the guns at the Buna police station have been swept away by the floods.

"Our vehicles have also been swept away by the floods. Even if tomorrow an emergency arises, we have no means of transport we can use," one of the locals lamented.

The residents say all their cries for help from the government have fallen on deaf ears.

"Our government has become one that sleeps on the job. We don't know what President William Ruto is doing. It seems like there are votes from certain regions and communities that are much more important than others. Our votes from Wajir North seem not to be important," a resident said.

"People have been injured, we have no roads, no bridges, no schools. Even our children have failed to sit for their exams because of the floods. If we are people who have a government, we demand action from the state."

The residents also pointed an accusing finger at the Red Cross wondering how long it takes to assess the situation in their area.

"No assistance"

"They recently mentioned Buna as a hot spot. Why has there not been any assistance by the government after that and yet we voted for them? The deaths are continuing to rise. What do they want us to do?" a local posed.

"Even the crops we planted...our livestock and our farms are no more. Where are the taxes that we pay for? Why are we suffering? The government must stand with its citizens."

The residents disputed claims that the government had sent aid to their area insisting that they have never received any assistance.

"We are now appealing for the international community to come directly to our rescue without passing through the national and county government," Abdullahi, a resident said.

The government on Saturday said the counties experiencing El Nino rains have risen from 19 to 33 over the past week.

In a statement issued Saturday by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua regarding the flood situation in Kenya, some of the worst affected counties include Mombasa, Garissa, Tana River, Makueni, Marsabit, Kilifi, Kwale, Meru, Isiolo, Turkana, Samburu, Wajir, Homa Bay and Busia.

Earlier this week, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said the ongoing El Nino rains in Kenya had claimed 46 lives, with thousands more displaced by floods.