Kenyans Pity Owner Of Exquisite Runda Mansion Submerged By Floods: "The Rich Also Cry"

• If there is one thing the flooding situation has reminded Kenyans, it is that nature has no respect for class
• That is after a heartbreaking video emerged showing a majestic mansion in Runda that had submerged
• Such scenes are rare for high-end estates like Runda, known for working sewerage and drainage systems

When nature strikes, its fury spares no one, regardless of class or social status. The ongoing rains have reinforced this message these past few days.

While the floods have devastated several sprawling slums, the middle and high classes have also suffered the effects.

Water levels reached the roof

Residents of Runda, for instance, were awakened to heart-wrenching sights of their once majestic and opulent mansions being swallowed by water.

In a heartbreaking video shared on Facebook by Global TV Kenya, an elegant mansion stood defeated by the relentless floods.

The grandeur of the bourgeoisie, an estate often admired with envy, was overshadowed by the rising waters that claimed its glory overnight.

A voice believed to be from the homeowner can be heard in the background counting the losses as she wades over the water on a boat.

"The water is going all the way to the garden. My God," the voice said, laced with devastation.

Mansion's owner counting losses

The mansion, once a symbol of affluence and success, had grabbed attention for all the wrong reasons.

As the video spread online, Kenyans sympathised with the homeowner, whose losses ran into millions.

For now, the owner faces the daunting task of restoring the mansion to its former glory, a challenge requiring resilience and determination.

Social media was abuzz with messages of solidarity, as the tragedy poignantly illustrated the adage, “The rich also cry.”

Social media reactions

The calamity sparked a conversation about the importance of respecting natural waterways and the potential consequences of ignoring environmental warnings.

Charles Bichage:

"It's so sad to notice that the water is still meaning some human activity downstream blocked drainage channels. Let's all be mindful of our actions."

Millicent Zennah:

"I feel very sorry for the residents. May God protect them."

Newton Lumala:

"The dangers of fencing your compound with stones all round water will maroon you in your own compound."

Linda Kibisu:

"It is so sad. Hard work gone to waste. God remember Kenya. Forgive our nation and its people Father. This is devastating. God is no respecter of persons. What happened in Mathare, Kibera, also happened in Runda."

What you need to know about flooding in Kenya:

• As of Sunday, May 5, official government records showed that the ongoing floods had left 168 nursing injuries, 72 missing, and approximately 212,630 people from 42,526 households displaced.
• President William Ruto chaired a meeting with the Multi-Agency Response team, during which he directed the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to offer their expertise to save Kenyans.
• During a visit to Mathare slums, Ruto disclosed that the government had allocated KSh 1 billion to construct all schools destroyed by floods before schools reopened.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.