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Roads rendered impassable as heavy rains pound Marsabit

Marsabit county chief of staff Galma Golicha with county commissioner Nobert Komora and Nord Horr MCA Tulu Elema at a media briefing after a county steering group meeting on the effects of the current heavy rains in the area. (Photo: KNA)

By Barack Oduor | Saturday, April 13, 2024

Leaders in Marsabit County are still urging residents of the northern frontier region living in lowland areas to move to higher grounds following heavy rains pounding the region.

The rains have affected roads and made them impassable, making accessing most parts impossible for residents.

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In North Horr Constituency, hundreds have been left homeless in the past two weeks.

Reports indicate that over three hundred families in about 100 homesteads in Koricha and Dahagabochi areas are helpless and stranded after getting displaced following the destruction of their homes and property.

"The damage could be much bigger as unconfirmed reports indicate that small stocks such as sheep and goats have been swept away by the deluge," area Member of the County Assembly (MCA), Tulu Elema said.

A meeting on disaster preparedness organized by Pastoralist Community Initiative Development Assistance has urged residents in flood-prone lowlands to move with speed to higher grounds to prevent loss of lives and property.

The meeting chaired by county commissioner Nobert Komora agreed that a detailed rapid assessment be conducted to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the floods so that proper interventions can be made.

Rains in the neighbouring Ethiopian highlands have caused the swelling of seasonal rivers, giving rise to flash floods that reach parts of northern Kenya.

Constant rainstorms have destroyed two ECDE centres, downed six power poles in North Horr town, and made roads including Gas and Dukana impassable.

The Kalacha-North Horr section of the Marsabit–North Horr road is currently inaccessible after several seasonal rivers served with drift bridges sprung up.

This has left the region without the supply of essential commodities leading to a hike in prices of food items.

A kilogramme of sugar is going for Sh300 up from Sh100 while a head of cabbage is equally selling at Sh300 up from Sh60.

Komora said affected families would receive emergency aid from the National Government consisting of 200 bags of rice and 100 bags of beans.

The Commissioner said the assistance will be delivered by all possible means as the CSG awaits a report on the actual situation on Tuesday, for intervention.

He said Kenya Power Company technicians have been deployed to North Horr town to work on the fallen poles and restore electricity supply.

The county government also said it was releasing 300 bags of rice and 20 cartons of cooking oil as the mobilisation of resources to help the displaced were being finalised.

The CSG asked the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), to have the damaged parts of the road repaired speedily.

The southern part of the county has also been adversely affected by floods, which have destroyed the road network cutting off areas such as Sarai, Irrir and Martidorop.

Other areas reported to be out of reach after roads became impassable are Mpagas, Ngurunit and Illaut with calls for humanitarian assistance from the government and well-wishers.

Meanwhile, in Moyale sub-county, a water pumping machine at the Bori borehole in Bori location has been washed away following a heavy downpour that pounded the area overnight.

The water point supplies both humans and livestock. Residents have appealed to the government and well-wishers, to come to their rescue and help in the repair of the machine.