- More than 400 families were last week displaced in Tembelela village within the location after River Sabwani broke its banks.
- The legislator has urged residents to heed an advisory by disaster management personnel to move to higher grounds.
Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi wants the national government to establish a drainage system in Namanjalala to curb perennial effects of flooding.
More than 400 families were last week displaced at Tembelela village in the location in Trans Nzoia after River Sabwani broke its banks owing to heavy rains.
“The government must find a permanent solution to this challenge by putting in place an appropriate drainage system or we will keep losing lives and property,” Wanyonyi said in Namanjalala.
He took issue with the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority, which is yet to complete construction of Maliki flood control dykes.
The legislator also urged residents to heed the advisory by disaster management personnel to move to higher grounds.
“I also call on the county government to put in place sanitation measures that will ensure that there is no outbreak of cholera,” he said.
Residents are reluctant to leave their homesteads, saying they don’t have an alternative place to put up in the meantime as the rains wreak havoc.
“We can’t move away since we have no other place to go to. What we require by now is humanitarian assistance and an alternative place to put up at and not mere advisories,” Moses Walucho said.
MCA Ben Wanjala said deserted dams should be maintained to serve the initial purpose of water harvesting to reduce overflow which breaks riverbanks, resulting in flooding.
County government’s administrator in Kwanza, Stephen Mukubui, said the devolved unit is working closely with governmental and non-governmental agencies to address the plight of residents.
“The situation is still worrying owing to the heavy downpour being witnessed in this region. We are committed to partnering with all stakeholders to contain the situation,” Mukubui said.