By Agwanda Saye

The government has embarked on a 20 year mitigation strategy to end the floods in Kisumu County.

The permanent secretary for special programs, Andrew Mondoh said the strategic plan will be implemented in three phases running through 20 years.

The first phase will be implemented in the first 18 months where assessment is done on the affected areas and the victims are given some materials. The strategy which is already in place involves giving the victims food stuffs, bedding and mosquito nets.

Mondoh said in the second phase which is to take up to five years the government will construct check dams in the flood-prone areas and in turn use the water for irrigation. The final phase which will take 20 years will include feasibility study on the affected areas to establish the real cause and exact and appropriate measures for controlling floods.

In this phase, Dams will be constructed across the rivers that burst their banks frequently during heavy down pour. Such rivers are Nyando, Auji and Miriu.

Mondoh said this as they assessed the flood situation in Muhoroni, Nyando and Nyakach constituencies in alongside his counterpart, Mark Bor, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Public Health. The team also included the provincial Security team, the Red Cross Society, World Vision and United Nation Children’s Fund, (UNICEF).

The team distributed 300 bags of rice, 200 bags of beans, 20 gallons of oil, 300 blankets and 180 Mosquito nets in Nyando and Kadibo. Similar amounts will also be distributed to flood victims in Muhoroni Nyakach and Nyatike.

The victims given materials were the adversely affected and were verified by a committee that included Red Cross and the Provincial Administration.

Public Health Ministry PS, Bor said that his ministry will provide nets to the victims as they were prone to water borne diseases.

“We are now providing treatment kits for prevention of water borne diseases,” said Bor.

Red Cross Western Region Assistant Secretary Emmanuel Owako said that the floods are still affecting Kano, Nyakach, Siaya and Budalangi.

Nyanza PC Francis Mutie assured that the government will do everything to ensure that also learning resumes in the affected schools.

Mondoh challenged the area residents to plant trees as a way of conserving the environment since that will help in stopping the floods.

…ENDS…