West Pokot County has launched a rainfall assessment committee to monitor the effects of the long rains this year, owing to the previous adverse effects of heavy rainfall that caused displacement of people, soil erosion, and destruction of property.
The county drought management team has taken the initiative to assess the effects of long rains from March to July, with stakeholders expected to start conducting field visits, especially in areas that have initially experienced flash floods.
The meeting incorporated all sectors of production in the county, among them weather sectors, agriculture, water, health, education, livestock, and social protection.
Kapenguria Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) Ms. Ruth Wachera, chairing the meeting on Tuesday, advised the sponsors, among them the Kenya Red Cross Society and UNICEF, to collaborate so as to avoid duplication of their activities in the same place and cover a large area.
“We usually undertake food security assessments, and this comes after every season,” noted the county drought coordinator, Mr. Michael Kimiti, adding that his team will be moving and facilitating various agencies and sectors in interacting with community members to get a clear view of what is happening on the ground.
Kimiti said that the assessment will take two weeks in all the sub-counties.
“We will take fourteen days to do the assessment in all the sub-counties in the county and compile reports for national consumption,” stated the drought coordinator.
In 2019, at least 50 people died following heavy rains that triggered landslides, and the following year, other people lost their lives because of floods.
The government has been at the forefront in supporting residents through the supply of relief food, which has really cushioned many households with the ongoing rations.
Several initiatives are being taken to mitigate the effects of climate change and soil erosion, which are prevalent in many parts of the county.
The County Women Representative Rael Kasiwai last week launched a tree planting drive at Kongelai Primary, dubbed “Greening of Schools in West Pokot County,” to mitigate against the effects of climate change by increasing the tree cover that will help control soil erosion in the region.
By Richard Muhambe and Maurice Osore
