Mombasa County has activated a multi-agency preparedness plan ahead of expected heavy rains, with authorities mapping flood-prone areas and putting emergency response teams on alert.
Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir said the county is working with national government agencies to minimise the impact of flooding and other emergencies that could arise during the rainy season.
The plan brings together county departments, security agencies, the Kenya Navy, Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Airports Authority and road agencies.
Nassir said the county’s immediate priority is to prevent loss of life and minimise damage to property in the event of flooding.
“We are working together from all sectors, the uniformed sector, the civilian sector,” he said, adding that the county had already started mapping areas where water is likely to accumulate and cause flooding.
The Governor said emergency preparedness would also include converting social halls into rescue centres if the situation requires evacuation.
The county health department has been placed on alert and is preparing adequate supplies in anticipation of possible waterborne diseases following flooding.
Mombasa is also preparing for possible disruptions to road transport, particularly in areas where construction works are ongoing.
Nassir said the county would provide motorists with updates where roads become impassable, including notifications to vehicle owners who use the county’s daily parking system.
The Governor also said he had held discussions with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on strengthening cooperation between the national and county governments in responding to the expected weather conditions.
However, Nassir said preparedness would not be complete without cooperation from residents.
He urged residents to stop dumping plastic bottles, bags and other waste into drainage channels, warning that blocked waterways could worsen flooding.
“A bottle here, a bottle there, a bag here, a bag there,” Nassir said, noting that accumulated waste eventually blocks channels designed to carry stormwater.
The county plans to deploy young people to help clear drainage channels and other areas as part of preparations.
Nassir said the expected weather conditions could bring heavier and longer-lasting rains than previous El Niño episodes, making early preparations particularly important.
“We must prepare before we are forced to prepare,” he said.
National weather authorities have similarly warned of above-average rainfall and urged counties to strengthen their preparedness measures ahead of the rainy season.
