Kenya flooding could have been prevented, says Prime Minister

AllAfrica.com via the Daily Nation (Kenya): The flood disasters being experienced in many parts of the country were preventable, Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said. He attributed the deaths of people swept away by water in Narok and other parts of the country to the cutting of trees which had left the land bare. Mr Odinga was speaking in Narok on Tuesday when he assessed the damage caused by the ongoing floods.

The PM was accompanied by ministers William ole Ntimama and Franklin Bett and Narok South MP Nkoidila ole Lankas. Mr Ntimama blamed the frequent floods in the town on graft and land grabbing. "There was a wonderful physical plan that had been commissioned by the government but it is not being followed because money changed hands," said the Narok North MP. He however absolved the current civic management of any wrongdoing.

During the meeting, Mr Bett asked the contractor recarpeting the Narok-Maai Mahiu road to assist in clearing the drainage system in the town. He also said four box culverts would be contracted in the town to enhance movement of water….