Ojaamong distribute relief food at Akiriamas Primary in Teso South on
Sunday.
Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong have pledged to fix permanently floods that have wreaked havoc in parts of Teso South and Teso North Sub Counties each
rainy season.
The duo made the pledged on Sunday afternoon after touring Akiriamas Sub Location in Teso South where they distributed relief food to about 300 families whose farms have been marooned by ravaging floods.
Ojaamong said residents of Akiriamas in Teso South and Akiriamasit in Teso North where Rivers Malakisi and Malaba merge have been affected by the perennial floods for long hence the need for a permanent
solution.
“Construction of dykes should now be a priority to avoid escalation of the problem. My government will avail fast maturing maize seeds and other inputs to affected families to enable them replant their crops once the floods subside,” he said.
Wamalwa echoed Ojaamong’s sentiments saying construction of the dykes must be prioritize adding that floods used to be a menace in Budalangi year in year out but construction of dykes has now contained them.
“We shall construct dykes in this area too to end the floods menace. A permanent solution will be the construction of dams. In Budalangi the National government and World Bank have pumped in Shs.10 billion to construct dykes along the Lower River Nzoia areas to help in irrigation and hydro power generation.
“We have also partnered with the Government of South Korea where Shs.5.7billion will be injected into the construction of a big dam along River Malakisi in Kocholia area where over 10,000 acres of land will be put under irrigation.
“The Governments of Kenya and Uganda will also pump in Shs.5billion to construct a dam along River Malaba for irrigation purposes.” Wamalwa disclosed adding that there are 3 million bags of maize in the strategic reserve hence no Kenyan will be left to die of hunger.
Area Deputy County Commissioner Solomon Chepoton said the relief food included 200 bags of maize and beans, 500 bags of rice, 50 cartons of cooking oil and 10 bales of fortified health food.
Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi thanked Ojaamong and Wamalwa for their quick response in visiting the affected areas and feeling the plight of families living there.
Area village administrator Enaga King said the heavy rains came early than usual with over 20 acres destroyed by the ravaging floods,revealing that Cosma Omung’au, 87, and his family are still surrounded by water in a raised ground in the area waiting for assistance.
By Melechezedeck Ejakait
