DNK International Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has announced that the county government has put emergency response teams on standby to handle potential casualties ahead of expected heavy rains this week.
The governor also ordered a one-week suspension of all construction activities across the county as a precautionary measure.
He directed the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Mohamed Hussein Mohamed, popularly known as Amadoh, to enforce the directive by placing a caveat on ongoing developments and halting any new construction works.
Speaking during a press conference at his office in Mombasa, Abdulswamad defended the decision, saying it was necessary to safeguard lives and property.
“The move follows warnings of imminent heavy rains,” he said.
He added that all excavation activities, including sand harvesting and borehole drilling, have also been suspended for one week.
The governor warned that individuals who defy the directive will face legal action, stressing that the county government will not allow residents’ lives to be put at risk.
“The Meteorological Department has confirmed that the rains will be heavy and accompanied by strong winds,” he noted.
Abdulswamad further cautioned that the county is likely to experience traffic snarl-ups due to the expected weather conditions and urged residents to plan their movements in advance.
He particularly advised those travelling outside the county to leave early to avoid last-minute delays.
Additionally, all county inspectorate officers who were on leave have been recalled to duty.
“We will ensure the inspectorate operates 24 hours a day and is deployed in designated areas to manage the situation,” he said.
