By Alex Maina
In Uhuru Estate, Kidiwa, rain no longer brings joy. For many families living near River Fafaro, the sound of rain means trouble. When it rains heavily, the river rises, drains block, and within a short time, dirty water flows into people’s homes. It does not wait to be invited, it forces its way in, soaking beds, clothes, floors, and sometimes things that cannot be replaced.
People have tried to protect themselves. You will see bricks piled at doorways, used as small walls to block water. Others dig small trenches to try and lead the water away. Some raise their furniture on stools, hoping the water does not rise too high. But these are not real solutions they are only ways of surviving, because the community has been left on its own.
Flooding is not the only problem. The biggest danger is the sewage. When it rains, sewer lines break, and raw waste flows into the river. The same dirty river then floods homes again, bringing water mixed with sewage. The smell is terrible. It is a reminder that people are living in unsafe and unhealthy conditions.
Families that live close to the river face this risk every day. After the rain, children often go out to play in the leftover water. They laugh and splash around, not knowing how dangerous the water is. Parents watch them with worry. They know the water carries diseases. In such places, sickness spreads quickly. People suffer from cholera, typhoid, and skin infections. Still, the people of Uhuru Estate remain strong. They wake up early, go to work, send their children to school, and clean up after every storm. They keep moving. But they are tired. They don’t want pity. They want action.
The people want working and expanded drains. They want the sewers fixed. They want a system that cares and protects, not one that abandons them in danger. This is not too much to ask. It is their right. Uhuru Estate is hopeful that the leaders involved will do their part and work for a better community.
