County launches long rains assessment

Kapenguria Wednesday, July 12, 2023

KNA by Richard Muhambe/Maurice Osore

West Pokot County has launched a rainfall assessment committee to monitor the effects of the long rains this year, owing to the previous adverse effects of heavy rainfall that caused displacement of people, soil erosion, and destruction of property.

The county drought management team has taken the initiative to assess the effects of long rains from March to July, with the stakeholders expected to start conducting field visits, especially in areas that have initially experienced flash floods.

The meeting incorporated all sectors of production in the county, among them weather sectors, agriculture, water, health, education, livestock, and social protection.

Kapenguria Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) Ms. Ruth Wachera chairing the meeting on Tuesday advised the sponsors among them, The Kenya Red Cross Society and UNICEF to collaborate so as to avoid duplication of their activities in the same place so as to cover a large area.

“We usually undertake food security assessment and this comes after every season,” noted the county drought coordinator Mr. Michael Kimiti, adding that his team will be moving and facilitating various agencies and sectors in interacting with community members to get a clear view of what is happening on the ground.

Kimiti said that the assessment will take two weeks in all the sub-counties.

“We will take fourteen days to do the assessment in all the sub-counties in the county and reports compiled for national consumption,” stated the drought coordinator.

In 2019 at least 50 people died following heavy rains that triggered landslides with the following year other people losing their lives because of floods.

The government has been at the forefront in supporting residents through the supply of relief food that has really cushioned many households with the rations ongoing.

Several initiatives are being done to mitigate against the effects of climate change and soil erosion, which is prevalent in many parts of the county.

The County Women Representative Rael Kasiwai last week launched a tree planting drive at Kongelai primary dubbed “Greening of Schools in West Pokot County,” to mitigate against effects of climate change by increasing the tree cover that will help control soil erosion in the region.

Courtesy ; K. N. A