Kisumu Woman Rep censures county over how it dealt with flood disaster

Don't sit and wait for disaster to befall our people and later respond with food donations, Kisumu Women Representative Ruth Odinga has told the county government.

Ruth criticised the county over how it handled the flooding crisis that displaced thousands of families in Nyando, Muhoroni and Nyakach subcounties.

She said the county should plan adequately and put measures to deal with such disasters.

"The national government has a tendency to release disaster funds late but this does not bar the county from having their plans, because what was difficult for the county to work out on modalities to deal with this disaster?" she asked.

Ruth was speaking to the press on Wednesday when she visited flood victims in Muhoroni.

"When the rains will no longer be there and floods are gone, they will go quiet without doing anything and come out again when floods return to donate food," Ruth said.

Ruth further challenged the county government to be active in dealing with flood disasters, saying they know the annual flood cycle in this area and must plan ahead to cushion families from this disaster.

"We should not excuse ourselves, this is not politics but pointing out the facts and every leader should do their work. County government must be held responsible to ensure that this desilting of rivers and all the necessary interventions are put in place," Ruth said.