EALS President James Aggrey Mwamu said that it was sad for the government to watch as citizens drown and homesteads remain marooned after downpours/FILE
EALS President James Aggrey Mwamu said that it was sad for the government to watch as citizens drown and homesteads remain marooned after downpours.
Mwamu said that it was disheartening that lives are being lost during floods even after the meteorological department announced the onset of the long rains.
“The right to life that is enshrined in Article 26 of the Constitution must not be taken for granted; we express concern at the dilatory way in which the Ministry of Special Programmes is dealing with the floods issue,” Mwamu said.
The EALS president regretted that the Ministry of Special Programmes made no preparations to evacuate families from flood prone areas.
Mwamu said that the government had capacity to control the ravaging floods in areas like Kano Plains in Kisumu County.
“Budalangi in Busia County experienced the worst floods in the history of this country but was controlled…why not other areas in the country,” Mwamu said.
Mwamu spoke as raging floods claimed human lives and displaced several families countrywide.
On Sunday night, raging waters killed four passengers in separate incidents in Kajiado North District.
“Raging floods leave a trail of death and misery especially to rural homesteads that live from hand to mouth,” Mwamu said.
Recently four people were swept away and killed by raging floods in Taita Taveta and Tana River Counties as heavy rains pounded Coast Province.
The EALS president said that the constitutional rights of families living in flood prone areas must be upheld.
“We demand urgent action towards fulfilling fundamental rights of families that are perpetually marooned and lose members over raging floods,” Mwamu said.
The EALS urged the government to improve and act on disaster preparedness especially after early warning signs from the meteorological department.
About The Author
