Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga has warned the government against continuing with demolitions at Mukuru kwa Reuben.

Speaking during a food distribution exercise in the slums, Raila urged the government to build houses for the residents before making any move to demolish their houses.

“Let them (the government) stop demolishing houses in Mukuru. If they try to demolish the houses, call us. If you want to relocate the people build good houses and prioritise these people. Do not demolish houses for the people when they do not have a place to go. Citizens are not animals. Have a human heart.,” Raila said.

“If you come by force… we are the force. We shall come together and die with you. Mukuru must stay.”

Raila on floods

Raila has also called on the government to declare floods a national disaster in order to get foreign aid to help reduce the effects of floods.

This comes moments after President William Ruto directed the Ministry of Interior to enforce the re-location notices issued to people living on riparian land in Nairobi, upon their expiry at 6:30 pm on Friday.

Ruto also directed the Ministry of Interior to coordinate the relocation and evacuation of people affected by floods, identify sites for temporary shelter for displaced persons and supervise the overall support programs.

“In Nairobi, settlements in riparian reserves have complicated the response efforts and compounded and aggravated the risks to human life and safety. The Ministry of Interior is hereby directed to enforce the re-location notices issued earlier upon their expiry at 6:30 pm today,” Ruto said on Friday.

Several homes on riparian land have been demolished in Mukuru kwa Reuben, with an estimated 20,000 set to be affected by the demolitions.

IDP camps

The government has set up a total of 115 camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) following a flood crisis that has hit the country.

The camps are accommodating a total of 27,586 people, and the government, according to a statement from the Ministry of Interior, has made specific interventions to meet their essential food supplies.

Approximately 196,296 people have been impacted by the heavy rains that have claimed 210 lives due to severe weather conditions, including an additional 22 fatalities. A cumulative 125 people have been reported injured, while 90 people are currently missing.

A total of 33,100 households have been displaced, affecting approximately 165,500 people and a total of 1,967 schools have had their infrastructure destroyed by the floods.

“The weight of tragic events in recent weeks has tested our nation’s resilience in the wake of unprecedented challenges. Persistent torrential rainfall has unleashed devastating floods, which have claimed 210 lives as of today, caused injuries to many more and wreaked havoc on property, infrastructure and livelihoods,” Ruto said.

The government says water volumes in the Seven Forks Hydro-Electric power dams have hit historic highs, with Masinga and Kiambere dams already spilling over through the managed spillways and threatening to overflow into neighbouring settlements and causing devastation downstream in Garissa and Tana River counties.