Flood victims appeal for help

More than 3,000 people living next to Lake Baringo have appealed to the government to relocate them as raging floods continue destroying homes.

The Ng’ambo and Salabani residents fear that if the rains continue, people will die and homes maybe submerged.

They told the Nation yesterday through their leaders among them Ilchamus ward member of the County Assembly (MCA) Wesley Lekakimon that they were ready to move to safer grounds if the government assisted them to begin their lives afresh.

“We are even ready to move schools to higher grounds as a lasting solution to the perennial problem. The floods have contributed to the dismal performance in national examinations,” said Mr Lekakimon.

He said residents had resolved to move Salabani Primary School permanently to the nearby Kerio while Ng’ambo Primary School would be moved to Lomolok.

HIGHER GROUND
The onset of the rainy season has adversely affected the education sector in Baringo County with more than 10 schools adjacent to Lake Baringo at risk of being submerged.

Many schools which had been relocated to relatively higher ground after they were submerged last year have not been spared either with most parents wondering where next to move the school.

The worst hit are Salabani and Katuit primary schools in Baringo South and Tiaty sub-counties respectively where pupils are now learning in makeshift tents provided by the Kenya Red Cross in conjunction with the county government.

During a recent tour of the area, National Lands Commission (NLC) officials led by chairman Muhammad Swazuri, said that the agency in conjunction with the county government had finalised plans to resettle people in Marigat district.

“The commission is also in the process of documenting all calamity prone areas in the county to ascertain if they are suitable for settlement to avoid more calamities,” said Dr Swazuri.