Residents of Lanet, a suburb in Nakuru County, Kenya, are facing severe flooding and erosion after the construction of the Nakuru-Ol-kalou Highway by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA). Nancy Wanjiru, a resident, said her toilet is on the verge of collapsing due to continuous gully erosion beneath it, and she fears her house will be flooded and may collapse. The construction of the highway has altered the natural water flow, causing water to converge on the farms and homes.
The Standard observed that KeNHA diverted water from two dams and Ndundori Hills to the farms, and the drainage constructed along the highway was incomplete, with some parts not corrugated and others missing. KeNHA also diverted water to pass underneath a house, which has raised concerns among residents. Wanjiru stated that some residents allowed a man-made drainage to pass through their farms, but it has not been maintained.
Pastor Bernard Njoroge, who lives near Wanjiru, witnessed the flooding on Wednesday evening and said the water from the dams, runoff, and rain converges in a culvert outside his gate. He blamed the flooding on the incomplete and poorly maintained drainage system constructed by KeNHA. Njoroge insisted that the authority should put up a proper drainage system adjacent to the highway to mitigate the situation.
Margaret Wagicumu, a resident since 2013, expressed her anger and fear for her children who play near the gullies. She said the situation will worsen with the impending El Niño rains and that many lives will be lost if measures are not taken promptly. Wagicumu explained that before the highway construction, a Calvert used to divert water to River Mbaruk, but it was allegedly blocked, and new Calverts were constructed to divert water to the farms.
The residents have been complaining about the situation, but their cries have been ignored, according to Wagicumu. Instead of mitigating the situation, the authorities have instructed them to vacate their residents, but they have nowhere to go. This is the second time KeNHA has been accused of causing flooding in the area, and last year, the authority mitigated the situation by blocking one of the channels and constructing a kilometre of drainage, which was later abandoned.
Beth Mburu, a resident, said the area lacks street lights, and they fear their children and neighbours will be swept away by water at night. The residents are demanding action from KeNHA to address the flooding and erosion. When reached out to, KeNHA did not respond to the allegations.
The flooding in Lanet has raised concerns about the impact of infrastructure development on the environment and the need for proper planning and maintenance. The residents are calling for urgent action to mitigate the situation and prevent further damage.
Key points
- KeNHA diverted water from two dams and Ndundori Hills to the farms, causing gully erosion and damage to homes.
- The drainage constructed along the highway was incomplete, with some parts not corrugated and others missing.
- The residents are demanding action from KeNHA to address the flooding and erosion.
