Kisumu County Assembly summons Executive wing on floods effects.

 The County Assembly of Kisumu in session.The Assembly has summoned the executive wing of the County Government to give a report on effects of flood in Kisumu County-File Photo.

 By Dickson Odhiambo.

 April 18, 2018.

Kisumu County Assembly summons Executive wing on floods effects.

THE County Assembly of Kisumu has summoned the Executive wing of the county Government to come and give a report on the effects of current flood situation within the various parts of the County.

Kisumu County Assembly Deputy Speaker Eric Agolla has directed the Assembly’s Committee on Implementation to summon all the relevant departments that deals with the issue of disaster and emergency management with the county so as to give a report on the effects of the flood which has caused havoc to the residents of the various wards within the county following heavy rains that have been witnessed so far.

The Deputy Speaker has directed that the departments be summoned and appear before the Assembly by this Thursday.

The Assembly wants departments such as that of Special Programs, City Management and other relevant departments to be summoned by the implementation committee led by Habil Nyasuna who is the Masogo/Nyang’oma ward Representative.

During the discussion of a motion presented to the Assembly by North Nyakach ward MCA Rashid Miruka on the effects of the floods in Kisumu County, MCAs said there is need to come up with a permanent solution to the issue of perennial floods in Kisumu County.

The MCAs who yesterday passed the motion want the Disaster and Emergency management Act of 2015 to be used effectively so as to help in the management of disaster and emergency cases within the county.

They claim that there is a lot of laxity in the implementation of the provisions of the Disaster and Emergency management Act of 2015 hence called for seriousness in implementing the Act.

A number of MCAs who debated and supported the motion have called upon the executive wing of the county government of Kisumu to ensure there is proper structure of handling flood menace which affects the people every year.

The MCAs have also suggested for the formation of streams and rivers Management Team so as to help in the maintenance of rivers and streams with an aim of controlling floods.

The Ward Representatives have also suggested that water pans should be build in those wards which are normally affected by floods during the long rain seasons every year, adding that this will enable taming excess water that are brought as a result of floods.

Meanwhile, The County Government of Kisumu has set up various evacuation centers within the sub-counties affected by the floods.

Kisumu County Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili says some of the rescue centers are already in use and others are on high alert for activation should any need arise.

He says so far, all most all the locations in Nyakach Sub-county along the lake line are submerged, adding that half of Nyando Sub-county,parts of Muhoroni, large parts of Kolwa Central and Kolowa East in Kisumu East Sub-county as well as parts of Kisumu Central around Kapuothe and Nanga Locations are affected by the flood.

Dr. Owili says some of the evacuation centers include D.Os office in Ahero,Ombaka, Ogenya and Oren in Nyando Sub-County.Sango Rota,Nyong’onga, Asao, Nyamarimba and Pap Onditi in Nyakach Sub-County.

Others are Obungu, Ofunyu, Aguna, Nyamasaria and Angola Social Hall in Kisumu East Sub-County as well as Social Hall, Capitol Hill Hall and Kosawo Hall in Kisumu Central Sub-County.

Others include Kisian, Rota and Obambo in Kisumu West Sub-County.     
  

Owili has appealed to the residents of the affected areas to consider moving into those centers mentioned as soon as the level of flood water rises to discomforting levels.

“In view of the magnitude of the prevailing situation, I want to send out a special appeal to well-wishers to come out and support the rescue operations with whatever is manageable,” Dr.Owili says.

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