Governor Wavinya leads rescue, evacuation efforts for Mavoko flood victims

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti led a multi-agency team on Wednesday to rescue and evacuate hundreds of residents of Mavoko whose homes were marooned by floods following heavy downpour on Tuesday.

Dozens of families in Graceland Estate, Kasuitu, Kwa Mang'eli, and Kicheko slums were displaced and household property of unknown value was damaged by the flash floods.

Machakos County emergency responders teamed up with officers from the Kenya Red Cross Society, National Disaster Management Centre, Kenya Navy, and the National Police Service in carrying out the operation, which lasted for the entire day.

Residents said they had incurred huge losses after their household belongings were damaged in the worst-ever flooding disaster to be witnessed in the last six decades.

Governor Wavinya said her administration had set up a temporary rescue center in Mavoko where victims would be hosted and assisted with food, bedding, and medication.

She urged all residents residing near or along the banks of River Athi to vacate and seek shelter in the earmarked rescue center.

She said the County Government, in conjunction with the National Government, would work together to streamline development in various areas, noting that the majority of private developers had defied physical planning regulations.

"Some developers have gone ahead and built houses and estates in riparian areas, which is why we have found ourselves in the current mess," she said.