We're worried about state preparednesss for El Niño rains, say Madogo residents

Residents of Madogo in Tana River county have raised concern over what they describe as inadequate preparedness by the national and county governments ahead of the anticipated El Niño rains.

Speaking to the press at the Madogo trading centre, they warned that the area could experience serious flooding if urgent measures are not taken.

Hamisi Barit, a resident, said little had been done to clear and unclog drainage systems, many of which have been left blocked by overgrown vegetation and accumulated debris, raising fears that the waterways will not be able to handle increased volumes of water once the rains begin.

“As residents, we are particularly concerned about the presence of fully grown mathenge trees along several drainage channels. These trees have significantly obstructed the flow of water and need to be cut down before the onset of heavy rains,” Barit said.