Prepare for more flooding, warns Kindiki

One person was confirmed dead due to the effects of the ongoing rains ravaging the country even as the government warned of more flooding in parts of the country in coming days.

Nyanza Regional Commissioner Flora Mworoa confirmed one death in the Winam area in Kisumu as Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki warned of more flooding along the lakes and rivers, low-lying areas and places with poor drainage prone to severe flooding.

“In Western Kenya communities residing along the Lake and rivers in Homa Bay, Siaya, Busia, Nyando, Nyakach and Muhoroni are likely to experience more flooding as the rains continues to pour,’’ the CS said.

The government notified members of the public that the weather forecast for the ongoing long rains presents the potential for more flooding.

Accordingly, the public is notified to exercise caution, plan their movements and avoid risky behaviour on moving waters to avert possible risks. “The risk of significant flooding in various parts of the country has put the Government on high alert,’’ said Kindiki in a press statement released yesterday.

 “The Government has taken proactive measures to ensure public security and safety and is prepared to mitigate any adverse effects of flooding in the Country,’’ the CS added.

Separately, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo issued an evacuation order to residents of Tana River and Garissa counties following the spilling of Masinga Dam.

Speaking during an assessment tour of Masinga Dam, Omollo warned that within three days, Kiambere Dam, which is receiving inflows from other dams will be spilling, posing great danger to residents of Garissa and Tana River counties if they do not start moving to higher grounds immediately.

His sentiments have been echoed by PS Energy Alex Wachira who announced that the government will be forced to raise Masinga Dam by 1.5 metres as one way of mitigating the effects of floods at the lower parts of seven folks.

Wreak havoc

Kindiki and Omollo spoke as Mworoa disclosed at a press briefing in Kisumu that over 6,000 families in Nyanza have been affected by floods as rains continued to wreak havoc.

Mworoa said some seasonal rivers had burst their banks thus displacing thousands from their homes and asked them to move to safer grounds.

The seasonal rivers are Nyando in Kisumu and Kabuto in Nyatike constituencies in Migori County.

Mworoa said most areas in Kisumu, Migori, Siaya and Homabay counties were severely affected by floods and the families have moved to camp sites.

Mworoa told the press that Kisii and Nyamira counties are not affected by floods.

She disclosed that the state was making frantic efforts to desilt the river Nyando and Kabuto in Nyatike.

In the meantime, the RC appealed to the affected families to relocate to higher grounds or safer areas. “We are asking those living around the seasonally flooding rivers to relocate to safe grounds, ’she said

Mworoa also disclosed the Government was doing all it can to construct dykes to curb the floods menace.

Seasonal flooding

The primary function of dykes is to protect low-lying areas from inundation by the lake and rivers.

They are also speeding up construction of the multipurpose Koru-Soin dam.

This is expected to curb and promote agricultural growth in Kisumu areas prone to seasonal flooding.

On Wednesday, the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) at the Ministry of Interior and National Administration reconvened the Multi-Agency Disaster Management Team.

The team was established during the 2023 El Nino rains to ensure a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to monitor and organize government response programmes.

Kindiki said Kenya Red Cross Society and relevant national and international humanitarian agencies have been co-opted to work with the government to provide a coordinated response.

He directed the County Security and Intelligence Teams across the country to work with county governments to monitor and report situations.

Kindiki said they will also support the interventions of stakeholders to ensure that the country mitigates against loss of human or livestock life and the destruction of public or private property.