- He emphasized the need for immediate action and called on the government to address the pressing needs of flood victims, whose lives have been upended by this natural disaster.
Humanitarian activist Eric Omondi has appealed to President William Samoei Ruto, urging him to prioritize assistance for those affected by the floods ravaging Kenya.
Speaking during an interview on Spice FM, Omondi implored the President to delay the appointment of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs) until the homeless flood victims receive the urgent support they desperately need.
“I am asking the President of the Republic of Kenya Dr William Samoei Ruto; do not appoint CASs before the homeless people from the floods are helped. Doctors are on strike, people are dying in hospitals, and people are sleeping on the rain,” said Eric Omondi.
He emphasized the need for immediate action and called on the government to address the pressing needs of flood victims, whose lives have been upended by this natural disaster.
Omondi took to social media on April 24, 2024, to announce the launch of a dedicated rescue boat to assist flood victims in Nairobi County and its surrounding areas. Videos on his Instagram page showcased Omondi unloading the boat from a small vehicle and deploying it on flooded roads, effectively transforming them into navigable waterways.
Read More
By the morning of April 24, Omondi and his team had already rescued 34 flood victims. However, numerous others remained stranded on rooftops engulfed by floodwaters.
The activist expressed his disappointment in both the national and county governments for what he perceived as a lack of prompt action in addressing the flood emergency and ensuring the safety of citizens.
The floods and landslides that have struck Kenya since March have claimed the lives of 181 people, with hundreds of thousands forced to leave their homes, according to reports from the government and the Red Cross.
In Mai Mahiu, where flash floods caused the deaths of at least 48 people on Monday, April 29, 2024, two bodies were recovered from the debris on Wednesday, with the death toll reaching 179 then.
Parts of Nairobi, including Mukuru, Mathare, Huruma, Ruaraka, Baba Dogo, Bosnia, Umoja 3, Choka, Njiru, Ruai, Utawala, Githurai, Kahawa, Eastern Bypass, Kinoo, Kijabe, Limuru, Ruiru, Graceland, Joska, Kaswito, Kicheko, Mangili, Kenyatta Road, Juja, Kitengela, and Magadi, have been severely affected by heavy rainfall, resulting in flash floods.
Kenya Red Cross workers have been actively rescuing residents whose homes have been marooned by floodwaters in Kitengela. They have also been working to rescue tourists trapped at camps in Narok.
Kenya and much of the East Africa region have experienced relentless and devastating downpours in recent weeks, with an El Niño weather pattern exacerbating the seasonal rainfall. Recent studies suggest climate change may contribute to these extreme weather events.
