Machakos County Emergency Disaster Management unit, the Kenya Red Cross Society and the National Disaster Operations Centre personnel successfully pulled the 17 people who were at the brink of drowning in the ferocious waters of River Athi, which burst its banks following a heavy downpour Saturday night.
H.E. Governor Wavinya Ndeti, who visited the operation zone at Kinanie announced the county government had established a temporary rescue centre at Kinanie dispensary, even as she pleaded with residents to stay away from flooded rivers.
“I am requesting our people to kindly stay away from flooded rivers. However, we have put our joint teams on the standby to be in apposition to evacuate residents who may be faced with the danger of being affected by the flooding,” she said.
She said her government had mobilized food and other basic utilities at the rescue facility, urging residents across the county to use the toll-free emergency call numbers to reach out for help. She said many clogged-up drainages had been successfully cleared in Syokimau where many homes were submerged in water.
Athiriver DCC, Patrick Mwangi hailed the teamwork between the county disaster committee and the Kenya Red Cross Society for the coordination which yielded the successful evacuation. “The operation was very successful despite the many challenges of heavy rain,” said Mwangi.
