Residents of Ringiti Island in Suba West Sub-County are counting heavy losses after strong winds accompanying heavy rains caused severe destruction in the area on Thursday. The powerful winds blew off roofs from several buildings, leaving families and schoolchildren stranded.
Among the worst-hit institutions was Ringiti Primary School, where two classrooms lost their roofs, disrupting learning for pupils. With the ongoing rainy season, concerns have been raised over the safety and well-being of the learners, as conducting lessons in temporary structures or under trees poses significant risks.
Additionally, nine families were left homeless after their residential houses suffered similar destruction. The families not only lost their shelter but also their household belongings, which were damaged by the rains.
Daniel Sure, the Secretary of the Ringiti Beach Management Unit, expressed deep concerns over the plight of the affected families and schoolchildren. “The affected families are undergoing a lot of tribulations since the rains also damaged other household properties. Children’s learning materials were also destroyed at home,” he said.
Sure further highlighted the urgent need for intervention, noting that apart from residential homes and schools, two churches in the area also had their roofs blown off by the storm. He appealed to government agencies, humanitarian organizations, and well-wishers to come forward and assist in repairing the damages and providing aid to the affected families.
“We appeal to government agencies and well-wishers to help us repair the damages which occurred. We also appeal for humanitarian aid to the affected families,” he added.
The incident has raised concerns about the vulnerability of the region to extreme weather conditions and the need for better infrastructure to withstand such occurrences. Local leaders and community members are calling for increased preparedness and disaster response mechanisms to mitigate future incidents.
As the affected families struggle to recover, immediate intervention is required to ensure that children can continue their education without further disruption and that those who have lost their homes receive the necessary assistance to rebuild their lives.
