Residents of Garashi ward in Magarini, Kilifi County who were displaced by floods two years ago now wants both the national and county government to install lights at their new homes.
The flood victims were resettled by the national and county government through Red Cross to high rising areas near Garashi town after their homes in Masindeni sub location were submerged in water.
Most of them lost their livelihoods during the flooding and are now living in the structures built for them.
They now say their new homes have no lights and are leaving in fear because of the presence of reptiles such as snakes that are endangering their lives.
A spot-check By Uzalendo News that visited the region showed also that some of the houses constructed through Red Cross are ageing and some have started to collapse. They also said that most of their houses are small and they have families with grown up children hence infringing on their privacy.
One of the residents Mbitha Mole said they had to move out of their homes and their villages in Masindeni in 2018 but things are slowly failing apart.
“We came here in 2018 after our homes and villages were flooded. Red Cross held us with small houses with only a single room and a verandah. But the challenge is that we have families and our children have grown. It is a taboo in our Mijikenda culture to sleep together with mature children. Although we are thankfully for the houses, they are small and the families keep on increasing,” said Mr Mole.
Mr Mole added that they can no longer access water because the area is a high rise and there is no water like when they used to get water in their homes back in Masindeni before flooding.
“We usually use water from the wells here in Garashi but they are not safe for drinking. If this village can be connected to water, then we are good,” he said.
Another resident Josephine Mwagandi also called for government assistance to enable them get good shelter since their families are growing.
“We came here after we were displaced in our homes. We are thankful for the Red Cross and the county and national government.
They assisted us a lot but now our families have grown and we are facing several challenges like lack of clean water and electricity connection. If that can happen then we shall be even more thankfully,” she said.
It was the same sentiment that was shared by the several locals that were interviewed by Uzalendo News who said that timely intervention by both the county and the national government is required.
