Safety zones set up ahead of El Niño

The government is setting up evacuation centres in flood-prone areas in preparation for the expected El Niño rains.

Addressing the journalists after a tour of Kisumu East District during which he assessed disaster preparedness in the area, the liaison officer at the National Crisis Centre, Mr Koitamet ole Kina, said the government was also ferrying food stocks to areas that may be cut off by the floods.

“This is meant to minimise the logistical expenses of hiring helicopters or four-wheel-drive trucks should the rains reach the forecast magnitude,” he said.

The evacuation centres are being set up in easily accessible schools and churches and, apart from the food stocks, are also getting medical supplies, bed nets and other necessities.

Among the areas where the programme has already taken off is the expansive plains between Budalang’i and Nyatike, where the locals have also been asked to stay alert to flooding signs.

Mr Kina said one of the identified evacuation centres in Nyando District, Ombeyi Primary School, had been destroyed during a recent storm, but assured the residents that efforts were being made to set up a different centre.

He said the government had not set aside any money for such disasters, but added that ministries had been allowed to reallocate funds when crises occurred. 

He said resources were being mobilised to mitigate the effects of the heavy rains, including sending working and retired health personnel in flood-prone areas. 

“What is not used during the rains will go towards recovery of the damaged infrastructure,” he said. 

Kisumu West DO1 Omar Ali said flood-prone areas had been identified in Kisumu West District, including Bowa Valley, where at least 250 families are affected each year.

He said the families were being encouraged to move to higher areas, or move in with relatives, to avert loss of lives and property.

Mr Kina called on Kenyans to harvest the El Niño waters for use during the dry period.