- Evidently, the level of preparedness to deal with the disaster in some of these counties is very wanting.
- Roads, facilities, power lines and related critical infrastructure are being destroyed and beyond counties' capacity to intervene.
Image: FILE
While floods are natural phenomena, it's unusual that nothing can be done contain the routine back flows from Lake Victoria whenever it rains. Human suffering cannot be that normalised and pegged on availability of public resources.
It has already been established and proven that the presence of the National Youth Service in such regions was a very efficient way of handling the flooding situations in these areas- their removal from Budalangi, a flood-prone area, is surprising.
Evidently, the level of preparedness to deal with the disaster in some of these counties is very wanting and the national government should move in, otherwise, the destruction will extend to more services, both devolved and national.
Roads, facilities, power lines and related critical infrastructure are being destroyed and beyond counties' capacity to intervene, but with proper leadership, even the private sector and individuals are willing to come in and help in a big way.
In counties such as Busia and Tana River, leaders and public agencies seem to rarely be bothered by the havoc caused by these uncontrolled waters to residential areas. It’s embarrassing that even with very elaborate early warnings and prior information from the weather people, relevant authorities from the counties still use very traditional approaches in dealing with such disasters.
It should be that whenever there is a disaster, teams are sent to the ground on fact finding missions and request for funds from the county. But even with such level of organisation, the money is rarely there, and some cou ties don't even have a single tractor that can do trenches.
This is besides such disasters needing fuel supply for equipment, food and non-food items for like mosquito nets for affected families.
The private sector, business people and individuals, if mobilised, can be very critical players in disaster management. Believing that only public institutions will lead in such interventions is misplaced. Government budgets are never enough.
For example, the current waters that are causing havoc in large parts of Budalangi and Bwiri ward in Funyula, are largely not because of river Nzoia is full, but largely because of the Lake Victoria backflow and rain water - which requires dyke improvement.
Digging of trenches and by extension moving of people and directing the waters to move towards particular direction can be of great importance.
The destruction of the Ruambwa and Mudembi Rice Irrigation schemes in Bunyala North in Budalangi Constituency and parts of Bwiri ward in Funyula Constituency just shows how uncaring some leaders can get. The areas around the lake have yet to recover from the Lake Victoria backflows of 2020.
The backflows happened when the spill gateways in Uganda-based dams increased backflows in the rivers draining into Lake Victoria including rivers such as Suo, Nzoia, Yala causing negative impact on human activities in the areas. The backflows and increased water levels led to beaches along the lake being submerged while lowlands are experiencing floods that have seriously affected the region.
It's important that plans are shared on how to move affected people to dry areas, how the national and county governments plan to assist in opening drainage and water pathways to allow movement of water from homes, provision of temporary moveable toilets, supply of water treatment chemicals, supply of livestock medication and quick maturing seeds to the community coupled with public education to dealing with Covid-19 is going to help the community in coping with the situation.
The Busia Governor, must as a matter of urgency, prioritise the finalisation of the County Disaster Management Policy and Regulations, and the County Assembly to allow the allocation of enough funds to disaster management in the country.
With the history of floods in Busia County, we need the NYS permanently in the county- there is huge government land near Mundere/Siseney Forest, and Hakati next to the Army Barracks, that is ideal and must be utilised for the benefit of the counties in the county.
With the NYS back and the military in the county, and a sensitive County Assembly that looks at the budget for disaster management in the county- the Members of the County Assembly from these perennially affected areas must, when asking for ward funds, be aware that the areas are unique and need flood management more than roads or other infrastructure development.
The situation is severe and needs urgent address, for when the floods happen, they destroy investments done. More importantly, go beyond depending on the government- both county and national- even if it’s their responsibility- reach out to other willing groups and the private sector to assist.