Today, May 1st 2024, Kenya has celebrated the International Labour Day from the Uhuru Gardens. The day is commemorated in virtually all democracies of the world.
This is the 59th year for Kenya to celebrate this day, the inaugural celebration having taken place in 1964.
The celebrations, which began relatively early today, went on peacefully, despite there being acrimony in some economic sectors. Government doctors are still officially on strike, and the disagreement between COTU and the PSRA is still unresolved.
Somber Mood in the Face of Flood-related Disasters
Still, there was an aura of somberness as Kenyans pondered over the massive losses the continuing floods have caused. Kenya has experienced persistent rain in recent weeks, which has led to loss of lives and property.
The Governor of Nairobi, Johnson Sakaja, highlighted the plight of many Nairobi residents, especially those residing in informal sectors.
Nevertheless, his speech was full of hope as he indicated the unity with which the leaders in Nairobi, the Red Cross, and different government agencies are working, to help those affected.
The governor underlined the need for people who were evacuated from flooded areas not to return to those places. He expressed the government’s resolve to resettle them in safe residential areas, so that they are not exposed to similar danger in future.
Nairobi Outskirts Severely Flooded
Meanwhile, areas in the outskirts of Nairobi, including Kahawa, Juja, and places along Thika Road, were dangerously
flooded by the morning of Wednesday, 1st May.
Many people in Kitengela and the surrounding areas remained indoors, and others had to be evacuated.
They found themselves in a precarious position, after heavy rains thundered all through the night. Feeder roads to residential homes and the grounds around were immensely flooded.
President Ruto, in his Labour Day speech, expressed his determination to hasten development of affordable houses, a project he initiated in 2023.
He pointed out he was aware that many Kenyans were feeling the pinch of taxation. However, he said, Kenyans will be glad to see the social and economic solutions the extra revenue will bring.
He cited the government’s affordable housing initiative as one of the solutions. Those houses, President Ruto said, should help to solve the city’s housing problem, which has led many families to live in riparian lands.
Riparian lands are those areas bordering water masses like rivers and streams, where plants, such as ferns, thrive. Those areas are normally swampy, and those not swampy are prone to flooding when it rains heavily.
In Kenya, there have been instances of story buildings sinking, becoming unstable, and generally inhabitable, having been built on riparian land.
Currently, many of the homesteads in Nairobi’s riparian lands are flooded. The situation is made worse by the fact that many of these homes have temporary shelters.
In matters related to the Maai Mahiu landslides, confirmed fatalities are now 51. On the overall, the number of lives lost from rain-related accidents in Kenya has already gone over 150.