Yesterday, I woke up to the devastating news that a blocked water-filled gulley in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County (my county) burst, flowed downhill, swept away everything in its path, and killed 45 people.
I was furious, especially when news trickled in that the number of deceased persons would rise as search and rescue efforts continued. I collected data to prove how much the government of Kenya, with its reactionary tactics instead of proactive measures, was to blame.
I was ready for a rant of all rants!
But then I realized how futile a rant would be. It would just validate our collective anger, and that would be the end of it. I know because I ranted in this post, and other than a lot of views and validation, no change occurred.
So, let’s do something different and be the change we want to see.
1. Memorize This Safety Guide
Follow the Kenya Meteorological Department everywhere for up-to-date advisories and alerts on heavy rainfall nationwide.
Twitter/X: @MeteoKenya
Facebook: https://t.co/4kxKgd3Kln
Website: https://meteo.go.ke/
WhatsApp Channel: https://t.co/qjiUKHxT62
On all these platforms, the Kenya Meteorological Department continually gives updates. Their mandate is to provide accurate climate information and early weather warnings to safeguard the safety of life and prevent loss of property.
So far, they have issued a heavy rainfall advisory and a media invite for today at 3:00 p.m.
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Keep checking the accounts for more, and watch the news today at 3:00 p.m. for an appraisal.
Download the FASTA-Ken App
FASTA stands for Forecasting African STorms App. The ‘Ken’ is for Kenya. This app provides access to current and approaching storm activity in your location.
The app allows you to choose between two different weather information displays: Timeline and Map. These are what they look like:
Follow Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).
Twitter: @KeNHAKenya
Website: https://t.co/e8Z5OcL4ly
KeNHA gives you prompt updates on the state of roads in Kenya. They advise on which routes to avoid and give alternative safe routes. Their most recent update, for instance, is that the Mai Mahiu route is closed, and motorists are advised to use the main Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
2. Share Widely
Please share this guide widely to make sure every Kenyan has access to the information.
You do not even have to share the entire post; copy and paste the relevant information and share it with family and friends.
People perish because of a lack of information or knowledge
—The Bible
3. Help Improve the FASTA-Ken App
Visit the Google Play Store and tell the developer what you think of the app and how it could be better.
This is arguably the most important thing you can do to ensure something like this never happens again. The app developers are still in the development stage, and when you download the app, they tell you it is an early-access version.
So, let’s make sure the final version is so good that even if the government of Kenya continues with its reactionary habits, Kenyans have a tool that can warn them of extreme weather conditions in advance and give them time to save themselves.
Submit your suggestions to the Kenya Meteorological Department because they are collaborating with the developers.
Here are my primary suggestions:
Have an SMS feature that allows you to send highly sensitive alerts and advisories through SMS. In an emergency, the quickest way to reach everyone is through SMS. An app will only benefit those online, and Kenyans online 24-7 are a minority.
Also, government SMSs always get people talking. The more they talk, the more they charge each other to obey the advisory. For example, Mai Mahiu survivors (when interviewed by news outlets) said they had been given a prior warning but didn’t react to it.
For areas that are prone to flooding, could you map the higher areas and include them in the advisory? When the government leaders visited Mai Mahiu—the Deputy President, the Governor of Nakuru County, and the Member of Parliament—they all advised residents living in lower areas to relocate to higher regions.
What are those higher areas?
I live in Nakuru, and if someone told me to relocate to a higher area, I would stand there confused. I do not know how Nakuru slopes. I do not know what is considered lower or higher.
However, the Kenya Meteorological Department must have this information.
Conclusion
I will be submitting these suggestions everywhere and hope the developers take them into account.
Please, if you take nothing else from this post today, do two things:
Share your suggestions on how to make FASTA better.
Share so that other Kenyans can do the same
Jimmy Johnson said, “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”
That little extra is making sure the next time there is even a whiff of a dam bursting anywhere, Kenyans have warning days in advance, know where the safe places are, and have already relocated.
I refuse to see more death on my TV screens when the rainy season resumes next year or whenever another weather disaster occurs.
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