In August, the weatherman called for a press conference and told Kenyans that floods were on the way coming. The weatherman wanted Kenyans to prepare, especially those in Nairobi and Mombasa.
In other words, the weather prophet was telling policymakers to put in places mechanisms that will ensure safety when the floods finally come.
The policymakers heard him and as usual, went back to slumberland. When the floods will finally land, they will start running around like headless chicken, as though they just realized it.
Condemned buildings will collapse, people will die and politicians will call for emergency meetings, call for journalists and donate food, mattresses, and blankets. They will put on melancholic faces, they will wail more than the bereaved, then we shall forget and wait for the next wave of floods.
In the past few days, every little rain has led to the flooding of Nairobi, painting the pathetic picture of the drainage system that has been persistent over the years.
Stats show that over 5,000 buildings in Nairobi alone are constructed on riparian land, something that often obstructs water flow, leading to flooding. The National Environment and Management Authority (NEMA) indicated that over 4,000 buildings were supposed to be demolished in an exercise that was supposed to take two months.
Demolitions kicked off, few notable structures were brought down and then the wave died and now people are busy talking about the cost of living and the new Finance Act 2018.
Nairobi, also, apart from the buildings on riparian land, has thousands of other buildings that are inhabited with people but might collapse at any moment. Most of the buildings were earmarked for demolitions but nothing ever happens unless one collapses to awaken the sleeping officials.
Mombasa has also been experiencing extreme cases of flooding every time it rains. Most buildings are said to be standing on water ways but little has been done to change the situation. Counties of Kisumu, Migori, Siaya, should also be prepared. They are now comfortably sitting, waiting for floods to come so that they can form part of every primetime news.
It is time.