The government is committed to finding solution to perennial floods in western Kenya, Information, Communications and The Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary, Eliud Owalo has said.
Owalo said that the solution entails harnessing the excess waters to ensure sustainable food security through irrigation and also desilting some of the rivers to contain back flow that has been displacing thousands.
On the short term, he said, the government was distributing relief food to the displaced, adding that the ministry of interior and National government adminstration will also move in soon to assist the flood victims with blankets, mosquito nets and other supplies.
He was speaking in Siaya County on Monday while presiding over distribution of relief supplies to displaced families in Ugunja, Alego / Usonga and Bondo constituencies.
The CS, who was flanked by Siaya county commissioner, Jim Njoka and local United Democratic Alliance officials, among them Fredrick Oyugi Dor, the UDA coordinator in Siaya, said poor planning was to blame for the displacement of people by the floods.
“We need to do mapping so that we are aware of designated agriculture zones, residential areas and river banks and lake shores where people should not encroach,” said the cabinet secretary who addressed the media at Dibuoro primary school grounds in Alego / Usonga constituency.
He said that the current state of affairs where people live anywhere because of improper planning and lack of enforcement of the laws must stop.
Owalo said that the Kenya Kwanza government was now focused on serving Kenyans and will not engage on empty rhetoric.
“President William Samoei Ruto has said time and again that the period for politics is over and we are now committed to tackling problems affecting the citizens,” he said.
During the occasion, CS Owalo was accompanied by the chairman of the Sacco Societies regulatory Authority (SASRA) chairman, Jack Ranguma and the chairperson of the Postal Corporation of Kenya board of directors, Mrs Rose Nyamunga among others.
By Philip Onyango
