Residents of Barnabas Estate are not happy with the Nakuru County government. According to locals, the county government has not included the estate in its ongoing plans to mitigate the expected El Niño rains.

According to Erastus Maina, a resident of Barnabas Estate, no team from the county has visited the estate that has no proper drainage or sewerage system.

Also Read: El Nino: Here are the areas at high risk of flooding in Nakuru

Barnabas resident Erastus Maina.

Photo credit: Bret Sanya/Mtaa Wangu

"This area has no proper drainage or even sewerage system and we are just wondering if the Elnino rains come now, we will have a crisis here," says Mr Maina.

Peter Mwaura, a businessman from Barnabas Centre, says county officials should visit the area and map it before the rains start.

Also Read: El Nino: Nakuru's painful history with the dreaded El Nino rains

Barnabas businessman Peter Mwaura.

Photo credit: Bret Sanya/Mtaa Wangu

He says Barnabas Business Centre contributes a lot to the economy of Nakuru County and should therefore be given priority.

"We see the county making preparations for El Niño in other areas but nothing is happening here in Barnabas. I think it is high time the county takes action," says Mr Mwaura.

The Nakuru government, however, insists that plans are still underway to map out all areas that could be affected by the rains.

In an earlier interview, the county secretary, Dr Samuel Mwaura, said adequate measures were being put in place.
According to Dr Mwaura, areas of focus include Naivasha, Gilgil, Kuresoi, Njoro, Bahati and Molo, which are known to be prone to flooding.

Also Read: El Nino: Nakuru residents express mixed reactions to county government's preparedness

The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that the country is likely to experience El Niño rains from October to December.

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