Flooded streets in Mombasa following heavy rains on Tuesday evening. [Photo: Mital/ Twitter]
The County Government of Mombasa has began demolishing houses illegally built along waterways.The development directed by Governor Hassan Joho has led to the displacement of hundreds of residents as the county government plans to construct drainage tunnels to control floods in the Coastal town.Mombasa has for the last one week been hit by floods as rains continue to pound one of Kenya’s oldest towns.Residents primarily affected are those living in Changamwe, Kalahari and Dunga Unuse informal settlements.“The process will cut across the county,” Joho said on Wednesday.“This exercise is aimed at clearing illegal structures that are responsible for flooding in most parts of the county. We are in the meantime distributing foodstuffs, blankets and mattresses to over 1,600 affected families in all the six sub counties,” he added.The governor said the county government will also provide clean water to those affected to avert the outbreak of waterborne diseases.Although he did not give the exact number of residents displaced, Joho said Changamwe had the highest number - 352.“We have also initiated a feeding programme for all those affected by floods in various areas around the county. The county government will continue to support victims to cope with the situation until they are able to get back to their feet,” he said.