Joy As Siaya Disaster Preparedness Team Tours Usonga in Readiness for Floods

On Wednesday the Chief Officer of Administration and ICT Mr Walter Okelo led a multisectoral County Disaster Management Secretariat to undertake an extensive assessment of flooding hotspots in the Alego-Usonga sub-county of Siaya County.

The region straddled by Rivers Yala and Nzoia is always prone to perennial flooding and the initiative by the Disaster Preparedness Secretariat has been lauded by locals to be a sign of the farsightedness of the Orengo administration.

The Secretariat is charged with mapping and designating evacuation sites should the ongoing predicted heavy rainfall reach disaster proportions.

The Delegation which included Representatives from the Kenya Red Cross, Meteorological Department, County Emergency Response Unit, County Disaster Management Unit and Office of the County Commissioner, toured Mahero Primary School, Sidundo, and Siriwo among other possible evacuation sites.

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Mr Okello also revealed that the exercise will continue across Siaya County, particularly in areas with a history of flash flooding and urban centres with poor drainage infrastructure.

“We intend to engage the community on disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies such as early warning signs awareness, the need to unclog culverts, opening of drainage systems, clearing of bushes to deter the breeding of mosquitoes and other factors that might prejudice the safety of residents due to the predicted heavy rainfall,” said Mr Okello.

His itinerary also took him to areas with a notorious history of flooding such as Ruambwa Junction, Lunyu Library as well as  Dibuoro and Nyandheho Primary Schools in Usonga Ward of Alego-Usonga Constituency. 

As he spoke to the residents he reiterated Siaya County Government’s commitment to focusing on safety measures while relentlessly pursuing development projects.