Deputy President Rigathe Gachagua has termed the Mai Mahiu dam-tragedy, which killed over 45 people as a natural disaster. But the second in command defended the government against accusations that it had failed to issue a warning to families to relocate from the area following the rise in water levels in the Dark Tunnel dam in Old Kijabe.
On Monday morning, the dam burst its banks, sweeping away tens of people, homes and livestock in Mai Mahiu area with fears that the numbers could rise in the coming days.
And speaking after visiting the affected families, Gachagua promised government support while calling on those living near waterways to relocate. He told of the government’s concern over the continued deaths of Kenyans through Floods occasioned by the ongoing rains.
“It’s really painful to lose over 45 people while over 40 others are missing and this is a natural calamity that was beyond us,” he said. He said that the government would support all the affected families while calling on to avoid daring nature by driving through flooded sections of the road.
“We have seen some irresponsible drivers try to manoeuvre through flooded sections leading to deaths of innocent persons and its time this stopped,” he said. On his part, the CS for Roads and Transport Kipchumba Murkomen said that the Ministry had put in place adequate measures to address damages done on the roads by the rains.
“As we condole with the affected families, we are asking drivers to be cautious and exercise due diligence as some of these accidents can be avoided,” he said.