Residents of Vijiweni village in Bububu location, Likoni Sub-County have expressed deep fear and anxiety as heavy El Nino rains loom.
They have faulted the county government of Mombasa over what they describe as inadequate preparedness as the country braces for the anticipated El Nino rains that are expected to cause destruction in various parts of the country.
The residents now fear the heavy rains could trigger widespread flooding,displacement and destruction of their properties as they have always experienced during rainy seasons.
They said their area was flood-prone due to a nearby swamp which has always leaked flooded water into their houses forcing them to flee.
Most of the houses in the area are currently unoccupied due to the fear of floods.
Rapid response officer from She Rises civil society organization Curtis Beka also echoed the same sentiments raising sharp concerns over the inadequate preparedness of the county government of Mombasa as the October–December El Niño rains rapidly approach.
Beka said despite the national government flagging 18 high-risk counties and projecting that up to 1.5 million people could be affected, local-level actions are heavily delayed, leaving vulnerable populations across the county exposed to severe flooding and displacement.
