Kakamega prone to seven major hazards, says Barasa

The Kakamega government is developing policies to reduce risks in cases of emergencies, Governor Fernandes Barasa has said.

He said the county is prone to seven major hazards, including floods, mudslides, fires, lightning, road accidents and collapsing of gold mines' walls.  

Sections of Malaba have experienced mudslides while Matungu and Mumias West experience flooding during heavy rains. Deaths have also occurred in Ikolomani and Shinyalu subcounties after collapse of gold mine walls.

Navakholo and Lugari subcounties are prone to lightning.

The governor spoke during this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction celebrations at Masinde Muliro University of Science.

Barasa said his government is prepared to respond to disasters in partnership with other key actors including the national government, MMUST, Kenya Red Cross Society, St John Ambulance, faith-based organisations, the media and NGOs. 

He said the county teaching and referral hospital has a disaster unit that coordinates with the county ambulance referral unit, the county disaster unit, the police and other actors in ensuring effective and efficient prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery during emergencies. 

 “We are currently constructing a disaster and emergency operation centre in the central region which will bring together all stakeholders during both pre- and post-disasters to organise a people-centered early warning information to swiftly respond to calamities,” Barasa said.

He said the county is constructing two other disaster operations centres in the next financial year.

Barasa said one centre will be established in the southern region covering Mumias West, Mumias East, Butere, Matungu and Khwisero subcounties.

The other will be in the northern region to cater to emergency needs of residents of Likuyani, Lugari and Malava subcounties. 

The governor said his government will increase its allocation for disaster preparedness to realise its goal of decentralising disaster risk mitigation initiatives to the grassroots. 

Barasa said the county has four fire engines and plans to acquire two more 10,000-litre capacity engines.

He said the county procured 200,000-litre foam to put out high-intensity fire incidents such as those involving fuel tankers.

The governor said that agriculture, which contributes 52 per cent of Kakamega’s Gross County Product, has taken a hit from climate change.  

He said with the prolonged dry season and outbreak of armyworms, the northern part of Kakamega expects below average yield.

“This is a serious warning of looming hunger not only for Kakamega residents, but the whole country,” he said.  

Edited by A.N