Farm produce worth millions of shillings have been reduced to waste following heavy rains that have been pounding the agriculture rich area of Kinangop in Nyandarua County.
Over 200 households in Kageraini village in Nyakio ward have been flooded with fears that the number could rise as the rains continued for the third day running.
This came as the local leaders and the Ministry of Education officers moved in to seek alternative examination centers after several schools in the area were flooded.
According to Nyandarua Women Rep Faith Gitau, some of the villages in Kinangop could not be accessed due to the heavy rains pounding the region.
Gitau attributed the current crisis to poor drainage systems as she appealed to the national government to intervene before lives were lost.
“We are seeking buses which will be used to help KCSE candidates travel to the exams centers as the roads are currently impassable due to the floods,” she said.
Speaking after visiting the affected areas, the women rep said that fresh products in the farms had been left to rot as water levels continued to rise by the day.
“We are now feeling the full effects of the El Nino rains and we are calling for support from the national government in opening up the roads and the clogged up drainage system,” she said.
Gitau added that the only solution to the problem lay in constructing water dams and pans in future to harvest the waters.
Nyakio MCA Zachariah Njeru warned of massive losses in the coming days as the rains continued to pound the region and nearby centers.
Njeru blamed the current crisis on the geographical formation of the area which was flat, adding there were no drainage systems.
“This is a major tragedy that has not only affected farmers but also traders in nearby centers and we fear some families could be displaced if the rains continue,” he said.
One of the affected farmers, Samuel Kuria said that the area had recorded heavy rains for the last three days leading to flooding of their homes and farms.
“Over 3,000 people have been affected by the floods and we fear for students who are sitting for the exams as all schools in this area have also been flooded,” he said.
Antony Gitonga
