Residents from Tana River County mostly those affected by floods have vowed not to vacate their marooned villages as most of them fear their lands will be grabbed.
John Komora, one of the floods victims from Kulesa village said that he had no other place to go adding that the pleas from their governor and other government to move to safe area are just but lies.
“Even if the level of waters rises to the top of the mountains we shall not move, our great grandfathers were born and brought up here and there is no way we shall move out and anybody who wishes to evacuate us should seizes from doing so,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Mrs. Hama Goma from Wema village who said that she could not leave her house behind and that, they are waiting for Gods mercies to overcome the floods menace if the government failed to do so.
“This is my only piece of land that I have, I cannot ran away just because there are floods, if things go beyond our assistance we shall seek refuge on top of trees, she added.
Tana River Governor Dhado Godana pleaded with the flood victims and assured them of their safety and properties but fell on deaf ears as most of the villagers were too stubborn and hostile.
“If you think this is a joke wait until the level of the water rises, we just want to make sure all your lives are not in danger, if we move you to higher grounds the better,” pleaded Dhado.
However one of the flood victims Fatuma Hawazi from Hewani said that she is ready to move if only there is assurance that their land will not be exposed to land grabbers and cartels.
“I am willing to follow what my governor says if only they can assure us that we shall not be called squatters after these floods,” she added.
Meanwhile Kenya Red Cross Coast regional Coordinator Hassan Musa said that they had all it takes to help the victims but added that the Tana Delta belt is the he difficult place to be as only boats could access the villages that had been submerged.