By Ebi Kesiena
Mombasa Catholic Archbishop, Martin Kivuva has urged the government to construct mega-dams to avert perennial floods that have killed more than 200 people.
Addressing attendees at the golden Jubilee commemoration of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tudor Parish on Sunday, Archbishop Kivuva offered prayers for families who have tragically lost loved ones due to the devastating floods sweeping across the nation.
“The government should construct mega-dams to harvest water because it is a big waste. Although there are floods, after a short while the waters will subside and flow into the ocean and they were not helpful but caused devastating effects,” said the Archbishop who is also the chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Kivuva called for proper construction of dams to harvest water from the rivers for domestic, irrigation and industrial use including the generation of hydroelectric power.
According to him, experts have likened the ongoing heavy rains to the ones witnessed in 1961 when people were relocated to other parts of the country.
“The disasters should teach us lessons to put in place emergency systems that will offer quick response to victims,” said Kivuva, appealing for collaboration instead of blame game in assisting the victims.
“As a church, we have encouraged our stakeholders to contribute food and clothes to be distributed to victims in the centres they are holed in,” he added.
All the parishes under the Catholic archdiocese of Mombasa have been told to inform faithfuls to contribute towards alleviating the suffering of flood victims.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop urged striking doctors to return to work and offer medicare to Kenyans affected by floods.
