RAINS, BLESSING TURNED CURSE.

 Everyone anticipated the coming of the long rains, well, almost everyone. But now that they are here, majority of the people aren’t sure it is what they wished for. The death toll caused by floods is now at 20 people and counting. The raging floods have caused not only death but also left a trail of destruction in many parts of the country. Vehicles are being washed away, mudslides are burying houses with people in them, and flooding in the plateaus and plain areas leaving homes submerged. The most affected areas include Murang’a, Kiserean, Athi river, Dagoretti to mention but a few. The intense lightning and thunder has also not helped any as the power supply keeps getting interrupted in areas experiencing these rains.

The government with the help of the media keeps sending out precautionary messages to citizens in flood-prone areas to seek alternative places to stay but is that really a solution? Think of a homestead in Murang’a for example. It is probable that the homestead houses three or four families, all related. Say that this is a total of atleast 12 people. Assuming that this scenario replicates itself in about one out of every four homesteads, where are all this people supposed to seek temporary housing? Nowhere. That is the simple answer, and not because they do not value their lives but simply because the solution offered is not a practical one. So every time those families see dark clouds approaching, they stare helplessly and the most they can do is say a prayer that they will live to see each other and to see another day.

# Stay safe, don’t shelter under trees when it is raining… and remember that small matter of saying your prayer.