Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds pounded Kisumu City on Thursday, damaging buildings, blowing off rooftops and causing billboards to fall, with several vehicles also affected.
Along the Jomo Kenyatta Highway, a billboard was brought down by strong winds, landing on vehicles that were packed nearby, causing destruction.
A rooftop and part of a wall at Jumbo Steel Mills hardware along Obote Road were among the structures damaged after strong winds swept through parts of the city.
Kisumu County Commissioner Ramadhan Mwabudzo said the incident had raised fresh concerns over the safety and structural strength of old buildings, billboards and other structures within the city.
Mwabudzo said most of the affected buildings were old structures surrounded by similar developments, warning landlords and tenants to take precautionary measures as the rainy season intensifies.
“We have asked landlords and tenants to check their buildings before the rains. We have to be cautious about our environment because there are so many people who rely on these businesses,” Mwabudzo said.
He said the county administration would not want poorly maintained or weak structures to cause injuries to tenants, customers or other members of the public.
“We do not want incidents that will cause injury either to tenants or clients,” he said.
The commissioner said Thursday’s downpour had also prompted authorities to reassess the safety of structures erected within the city, including billboards and buildings located along busy streets.
He said the county administration, together with the city planning department, would inspect structures to establish whether they were strong enough to withstand extreme weather.
“Today’s experience has sent a new alert to both the city planning team and my team. We have to go round again and check the strength of most buildings and billboards erected along the streets,” he said.
Mwabudzo said authorities had also noted the need to assess drainage systems in the city, despite ongoing works to improve drainage and control flooding.
The heavy downpour lasted less than 30 minutes but was intense, accompanied by powerful winds that caused widespread disruption.
A resident, Mary Owino, described the winds as unusually strong, saying they appeared capable of carrying away loose objects and damaging structures.
“The wind was too much. It could blow away anything. The rain did not even last 30 minutes, but it was short and heavy,” she said.
Mwabudzo said the incident should serve as a warning to property owners and authorities to strengthen preparedness ahead of possible heavier rains.
