With the ongoing floods proving to be a thorn in the flesh of Kenyans due to the destruction they continue to cause, and with most elected leaders in Nairobi remaining silent, City Tycoon Agnes Kagure has decided to be the voice of the voiceless and the common mwananchi.
In a social media post on April 25, the outspoken leader attributed the adverse effects of floods in Nairobi to poor urban planning. She stated that it is not too late and that there is room for recovery.
Agnes Kagure speaks during a past event
In her message, Agnes Kagure urged Nairobians to be cautious around swollen rivers and anything that may result in loss of lives during the ongoing floods. She has also vowed to help where she can to save the lives of Nairobians who are stuck in the floods.
In her parting shot, Agnes Kagure maintains that it is sad and sickening that the issue of floods ravaging Nairobi residents isn’t occurring for the first time, and that the government and elected leaders, who now appear to be voiceless, had ample time to plan before the floods started.
Agnes Kagure speaking to the media
“My heart goes out to the people of Nairobi and other parts of the country who are affected by the recent floods. It is truly heartbreaking to see homes, businesses, and roads submerged in filthy water, causing distress and posing many risks to our people.
“While we consider intervention options in our private capacities, it is prudent to note that the flooding in Nairobi calls for comprehensive urban planning audits and new investments in resilient infrastructure.
“We cannot afford to let such disasters recur time and again due to negligence and lack of foresight while we watch helplessly. It is never too late to fix the planning mishap and rework our drainage systems,” Agnes Kagure wrote on Facebook.
Agnes Kagure delivers a keynote speech during Nairobi meeting
All the same, Agnes Kagure expressed on Facebook that while they are contemplating intervention options privately, it is wise to acknowledge that the flooding situation in Nairobi necessitates thorough urban planning reviews and additional investments in robust infrastructure.
She emphasized that it is unacceptable to repeatedly face such disasters due to negligence and a lack of planning. Despite the past oversights, she believes there is still an opportunity to correct the urban planning errors and improve the drainage systems.
