Kijabe: Kindiki Issues Vacation Order & Directs Repairs On Railway Lines

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki on Tuesday, May 7 directed the immediate evacuation of all persons living downstream in Kijabe, Kiambu County and for repairs to be carried out on damaged railway lines.

The repairs aim to remove the blockages caused by the deposition of debris on the line, which suffered the brunt of fallen trees and mud accumulation on the rails which deemed the railway line cutting through the Kijabe area impassable.

The CS was on a risk assessment and disaster risk mitigation duty trip to the area and explained that the directive was to avoid further loss of lives as witnessed in recent days.

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki during an assessment visit in Kijabe, Kiambu County on May 7, 2024. /KITHURE KINDIKI

"Following reported structural vulnerabilities of other tunnels forming part of the Railway infrastructure in the Kijabe area, the Government has directed urgent structural repairs and drainage of the tunnels to avert loss of life in the area as was the case last week," he stated in part.

Kindiki at the same time directed the Kiambu and Nakuru County Security and Intelligence Committees (CSICs) to evacuate all persons whose residences are likely to be on the path of downstream stormwater in the event of a drainage system burst. 

"Members of the public affected by this directive will be assisted to find temporary shelter until it is safe to return to their habitual residences," he assured.

This directive came in adherence to evacuation orders issued by President William Ruto to residents living on riparian land to avert more tragedies as a result of the flooding menace.

In his directive which he made on May 3, the president ordered the Interior Ministry to identify potential sites for temporary shelter for displaced persons and lead the overall support programme.

Ruto also directed Kindiki to forcefully evacuate all Nairobians who live and have built their houses on riparian land.

Prominently, this directive impacted structures illegally erected on riparian lands along Nairobi's riverbanks, mainly impacting structures within 30 metres of the Ngong, Mathare, and Nairobi rivers,

However, the move has worsened the situation, leading to the displacement of thousands of residents despite the government's stance that the demolitions were for their safety from further tragedies caused by the ongoing torrential rains and flooding.

President William Ruto with Interior CS Kithure Kindiki during their visit to Mathare, Nairobi County on May 6, 2024. /PCS