The national government has released Sh29 million to help families affected by fresh floods in Trans Nzoia County.
Speaking on Tuesday after visiting flood victims in Namanjalala, where 3,490 families have been displaced, Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa urged public cooperation and assured that the government is committed to finding a lasting solution to the floods.
Announcing the formation of a multi-agency committee drawing membership from the affected communities, humanitarian bodies, and national and county governments tasked to assess the extent of damage caused and the exact number of families affected, the CS urged the committee to also come up with long-term proposals on how to mitigate the floods.
“We are working together as government ministries to ensure our people get the essential services needed. Our collaboration will ensure that our children continue to access education, drugs, mosquito nets and vaccination against malaria is done to avert any health crisis,” she said, promising that dykes which were broken by the floods would be rectified.
Floods in Namanjalala are a common occurrence whenever there are heavy rains, where River Sabwani breaks its banks, leaving a wave of destruction and on several occasions, lives are lost.
The most affected groups whenever the floods strike are women, children (more so orphans), the elderly and widows.
Since 2017, the government has invested more than Sh55 million in mitigation of the floods, which has seen several dykes being constructed.
The construction of the dykes seemed to bear fruit, as it helped families reclaim more land for agricultural activities, increasing food production.
However, silting has been identified as a major obstacle and cause of the recent floods, which have left a wave of destruction where several houses have been submerged and others washed away, leaving 3,490 families displaced and affecting more than 20,000 people.
Affected families have called on the government to ensure construction of more dykes and repossess land meant for construction of dams which has allegedly been grabbed by some individuals.
During the visit, where she was accompanied by Kiminini Legislator Kakai Bisau, Trans Nzoia Woman Representative Lillian Siyoi and County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi, the CS issued emergency foodstuff, shelter, mattresses and blankets to the affected families.
By Isaiah Nayika
