Migori: Residents of Nyatike Sub-county have called on the leadership of Migori County to implement early flood-mitigation measures to protect residents’ lives and property.
According to Kenya News Agency, the residents, led by Kennedy Nyambok, voiced their concerns during a forum at Kimai village in Macalder Kanyarwanda Ward-Nyatike. They highlighted an alert issued by the National Meteorological Department regarding the anticipated El Ni±o rains in the coming months of September and October. Nyatike Sub-county, known for its susceptibility to flooding, needs to be adequately prepared, they stressed.
The residents expressed frustration over the recurring floods that annually devastate their livelihoods, causing chaos, death, and property loss. In response, they urged the Migori County leadership to prudently utilize the Sh44.2 million allocated for emergency preparedness and response in the 2026/2027 Financial Year to mitigate potential flood incidents.
Nyambok specifically called on the Department of Environment and Disaster Management to ensure that the funds are used effectively to support residents in the event of natural calamities. Additionally, the residents appealed to the National government to continue constructing dykes at the lower Kuja irrigation scheme to manage water flow and reduce flooding in the region.
The Lower Kuja Irrigation Scheme currently uses dykes as a flood control measure to prevent water from exceeding a certain height in Nyatike Sub-county. These dykes serve as the first line of defense against overflowing water that has consistently damaged properties and displaced residents.
Earlier this year, in March, Marindi Market in the heart of Migori town was severely affected by floods when the River Migori burst its banks, impacting half of the small businesses within the market. The floods also affected a hundred households in the Pand Pieri area on the outskirts of Migori Town.
The March floods further impacted parts of Kuria, with significant damage occurring at the Kendege Technical and Vocational College (TVC) and the Migori GK Prison. Flash floods from the River Migori swept away farm investments worth millions.
Migori County has been experiencing rainfall over the past three days following a prolonged period of dryness that caused significant losses for farmers in the region.
