Traders suffer heavy losses as rains disrupt transport sector

A section of Garissa town in submerged in flood water. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

A section of Garissa town in submerged in flood water /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

The rains, which many residents had initially welcomed after four consecutive seasons of little to no rainfall that resulted in a biting drought, came with a heavy price as floodwaters swept through homes, businesses and key parts of the town.

As the rain intensified, large sections of the town were turned upside down after seasonal streams, locally known as lagas, which are meant to channel rainwater downstream, were overwhelmed by the volume of water.

A spot check across Garissa town, including the busy Garissa market, revealed a dire situation with floodwaters submerging shops and residential areas.

Traders were seen scrambling to salvage goods that had been soaked in rainwater, with many counting heavy losses.

Hassan Hussein, a clothes shop owner at the Garissa market, said the flooding caught him off guard, forcing him to hurriedly move his merchandise to safer areas, though much of it had already been damaged.

“This happens every time it rains.  We lose stock, yet nothing changes. Surely where is the county government and what are they doing to address this perennial problem,” Hussein said.

He blamed the situation on a poor drainage system, saying blocked and poorly maintained drainage channels had worsened the flooding.

Another trader, Amina Hussein, who has a cereals store at the Garissa market and which was equally affected, said the problem has persisted for years despite repeated appeals to the county government to intervene.

She accused the county administration of doing little to address the issue, arguing that proper drainage infrastructure could significantly reduce the flooding that has now become a recurring nightmare whenever it rains.

“Every time it rains, we know we will suffer. The drainage is either blocked with dirt or simply not working. Going forward, if the situation is not addressed, we will continue incurring huge loses including the potential loss of lives,” Amina said.

“As we advance, the county needs to be serious for once. It should prioritise the construction and maintenance of proper drainage systems, as well as the clearing of blocked channels, to prevent a repeat of the destruction.”

But in contrast, pastoralists living in the rural parts expressed deep gratitude following the rains.

“We thank God for these rains. For months, our animals were dying because there was no grass and no water. Now the land is turning green again and we have hope that our livestock will recover,” said Hussein Mohamed, a pastoralist from Ijara subcounty.

Another pastoralist Moulid Hussein from Danyere in Balambala subcounty said the rains have restored optimism among communities that had been struggling to survive the harsh drought conditions.