The government has announced plans to construct dykes along River Nyando to mitigate the recurring floods that have always impacted Nyando, Muhoroni and Kadibo Sub-Counties.
Cabinet Secretary for East African Community (EAC), Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), and Regional Development, Beatrice Askul, revealed that the Ministry has tasked the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) to undertake the project.
The dykes will extend to flood-prone villages including Kanyamtenda, Sidho-Kore, Katundu, and Obiayo, which have been heavily affected by seasonal flooding from the river.
Askul made the remarks at the Kogalo Evacuation Centre, Ombeyi location, Muhoroni Sub-County when distributing food to flood victims on Wednesday.
She outlined additional measures to control flooding including desilting the Miriu, Achuodho, and Ombeyi Rivers to prevent water overflow into nearby villages.
Through a multi-sectoral approach, she said, all the relevant ministries have been engaged in pooling resources for sustainable flood management solutions.
“The Koru-Soin Dam construction project is under the Ministry of Water. My Ministry will concentrate on building dykes and drilling emergency boreholes to supply water for domestic use to the affected households,” she stated.
Askul acknowledged that the government is concerned about the plight of displaced families in Nyando and Muhoroni Sub-Counties. She assured the residents that the government is committed to alleviating their suffering.
The CS pledged that funds would be allocated in the next supplementary budget to commence the projects within two to three months.
During the ministerial visit which also extended to Nyamasao and Ombaka areas, Nyando Sub-County, Askul was accompanied by ASALs and Regional and Development Principal Secretary (PS) Harsama Kello, LBDA Managing Director Wycliffe Ochiaga and Nyando Constituency MP Jared Okello.
In addition to flood control measures, Askul reassured rice farmers in the region of government support in marketing their crops.
She announced that LBDA will purchase all the rice paddy harvested in the area to protect farmers from exploitation by middlemen.
PS Kello highlighted that LBDA rice mill plant in Kibos has the capacity to procure and process over 2,500 tons of rice from farmers in the Ahero Irrigation scheme annually offering a better market to the local farmers.
“The LBDA Managing Director has confirmed that the rice mill can buy all the paddy from farmers at standard market rates,” he affirmed.
By Robert Ojwang’
