Sea walls collapse puts 3,000 Lamu residents at risk f being swept away by the Ocean

The collapsed Mkokoni sea wall in Lamu county. /CHETI PRAXIDES

Not less than 3,000 residents in  Lamu East risk having their houses swept away by the Indian Ocean waters after their sea walls collapsed and caved in. The Mkokoni and Kizingitini residents are having to find solace elsewhere as the water has found its way into their residential areas and business premises.

The walls were specifically built to stop the flow of water from the Indian Ocean spilling into public areas.Residents blamed the collapse on lack of maintenance.

They accused the Lamu county government of the poor structural manner in which the walls were constructed resulting in their collapse.

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They want the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to probe allegations of misappropriation of funds during construction of sea walls in the region by the previous county government regime.

The structural engineer in the state department of public works Hillary Nyaanga said plans are on to renovate the sea walls soon after they received reports on their bad state.

However, Nyaanga did not disclose when exactly the works will start nor the budget allocation for the project.

The residents also want jetties put up in the area to ease water transport.

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