Tana River Senator Dr. Danson Mungatana has called for the development of a comprehensive river safety policy in the county following the drowning of a young girl playing near the Tana River.
Mungatana made the call after visiting Laza Mtoni to condole with the family of Mzee Ariso, whose young daughter lost her life in the tragic incident.
The Senator emphasized that the tragedy highlights the urgent need for the county government to establish clear and practical safety guidelines for communities living and working along the riverbank.
He described the Tana River as both a vital blessing and a significant safety challenge for local residents.
“The River Tana has been our biggest blessing to our County and equally our biggest challenge,” Mungatana noted.
He highlighted that generations of Tana River residents have maintained a close relationship with the river using it for farm transport, watering livestock, domestic water collection, and recreation.
According to Mungatana, communities previously relied on unwritten, traditional safety rules passed down through generations. However, he cautioned that many of these informal practices are fading among younger generations who interact less frequently with the river.
Consequently, he argued that river safety must transition from informal community knowledge into formal county policy.
“The safety of people as they interact with the river ought to be a proper County government policy,” he said.
Mungatana proposed that the policy be well-researched, submitted to the Tana River County Assembly for debate and adoption, and followed by a countywide sensitization campaign to build public awareness and compliance.
He emphasized that a structured safety policy will help protect vulnerable children while allowing communities to safely depend on the river for their livelihoods.
