This archive report was first published on 28 April 2020.
On April 28, 2020, heavy rains pounded Mwea, Kenya, causing severe flooding in the area. The National Irrigation Board's premises, including offices and staff residences, were among the affected areas.
The rains, which started as early as 7 pm on Sunday, continued throughout the night, leading to the flooding. Mwea irrigation scheme manager Innocent Ariemba stated that not even the executive guest center for the Board had been spared by the flooding.
"We are unable to even access our offices due to the flood waters which have turned the roads and parking bays into ponds," Ariemba said.
Private homes and high-end residential areas were also affected, with residents unable to get out or enter their homes. The area is low-lying and ideal for irrigated rice farming, which made it particularly vulnerable to flooding.
Area MCA Gudson Muchina called on the governor of Kirinyaga to use emergency funds to open up the drainage system and get the flooded water flowing. Muchina also stated that the canal under unit 20 broke its banks, leading to the destruction of rice in the fields and incurring heavy losses.
A farmer in the area, Mwangi Njoga, incurred a loss of over half a million shillings after the water washed away his store containing his paddy. "I was not able to save even a single sack of my rice out of all the stock I had preserved," Njoga said.
The Scheme Manager Ariemba stated that he would provide a grader to help open up the drainage system and minimize the risk of flooding in the area, even as the rains continued to pound the area.
