Rose Wanja Urges Sakaja to Act Before Disaster as 200 Kangemi Residents Lead Drainage and River Cleanup
Rose Wanja has called for urgent preventive action to avert flooding and other disasters for the awaited heavy rains' Elnino' ,urging Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to work with communities to clear drainage systems and inspect rivers before lives and property are lost.
Wanja said The Nairobi City County Disaster and Emergency Management Act, 2015 recognises preparedness and mitigation as part of disaster management.
"We have been warned about heavy rains. How much preventive work have we seen on our rivers, drainage systems and known flooding points?" Said Wanja
"We do not want to see the Expressway flooding ,We don’t want to wait until homes are flooded, businesses destroyed or lives are lost before emergency action begins."She added
Wanja said 100 women led by Buju had volunteered to clean and inspect drainage systems in Kangemi, while another 100 men were surveying rivers to identify blockages and dangerous areas.
She praised the residents, noting that many of the women are tenants who had chosen to take responsibility for the environment where they live and raise their children.
Wanja also thanked Chris Kaku Ongara for joining the residents on the ground and Hon. Alvin Olando Palapala for contributing KSh50,000 towards breakfast and lunch for the volunteers.
Wanja challenged Governor Sakaja to step up preventive measures in known flooding areas, including rivers and drainage systems, saying the county should deploy machinery where communities are unable to manage the work themselves.
She further urged residents not to rely entirely on government intervention, arguing that communities can initiate preventive action while government agencies provide the necessary support.
“We can start. Government can meet us on the ground,” she said, stressing the importance of collective responsibility.
Wanja maintained that her involvement was driven by a desire to support her community and not by ambitions for a political seat.
“Prevention before disaster. Action before tragedy,” she said.