Tana River governor threatens to withhold rescue boats from residents defying flood warnings

Tana River Governor Dhadho Godhana warned residents who refuse to leave flood-prone areas that the county will not send rescue boats if they get trapped by rising floodwaters. Speaking at the ongoing Innovation and Business Summit in Tana River, Godhana said his administration has been urging relocations for two months and provided materials including iron sheets, timber, and nails to help households move to safer locations. He said boats will instead be assigned other duties, adding that “we will not take even a single boat” for people who ignored the warnings. The threat comes as concerns grow over potential flooding along the River Tana, with heavy rainfall upstream linked to rising flows toward the Seven Forks dams. Officials said spill is designed to protect the dams, but downstream channels may be too narrow to handle excess water.