Busia: Busia County Commissioner, Stephen Orinde has urged the local residents to be on high alert over the heavy rains pounding several parts of the country. The move comes after heavy rains accompanied by strong winds destroyed a number of properties, crops, and fell trees, including the county’s commissioner’s official residence on Tuesday evening.
According to Kenya News Agency, Orinde addressed the press on Wednesday and stated that his residence was severely affected after a tree fell on its roof during the heavy downpour on Tuesday at around 4.00 pm. He mentioned that while there has been no serious flooding so far, the winds that caused the damage were extraordinary and have not been witnessed in decades, describing the incident as an isolated case.
Orinde has directed all the Deputy County Commissioners across the eight sub-counties to convene public barazas aimed at sensitizing residents on early reporting of emergencies that require government intervention. He further noted that Busia remains vulnerable to flooding, particularly in Samia, Bunyala, and parts of Teso North around Amoni where rivers Malakisi and Malaba converge.
The County Commissioner stated that disaster management committees have been activated at both the County and Sub County levels with authorities monitoring water levels in high-risk areas. He commended past government interventions, particularly the construction of dykes in Budalangi, adding that it has significantly reduced flooding risks in the area.
Orinde assured residents that the government is prepared to provide relief support should the situation escalate, emphasizing that proactive measures are key in preventing a humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, a number of residents had their businesses disrupted during the better part of the day due to a lack of electricity following the heavy downpour and wind that fell a number of electricity poles.
A spot check by KNA revealed that most business premises, including hotels in Busia town, resorted to using generators.
