County prepares for El Nino

Busia,

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

KNA by Salome Alwanda

Busia County Disaster Management Committee has held an inaugural meeting with a view to prepare for the forthcoming El Nino rains predicted to begin in October this year.

Speaking to the press after the meeting on Tuesday, Busia County Commissioner Mr, Kipchumba Ruto said the committee has planned on how to get food and non-food items so that they cushion those who are likely to be affected by the menace.

“We are urging the locals to be ready to move to higher grounds in case their homes will be affected by floods caused by the expected heavy rains,” he said, adding that the Bunyala area is likely to be affected since it has been prone to annual floods.

“Those who have crops in their farms should start harvesting so that they are not swept away by heavy rains," he said, adding that the government has set aside lorries to help evacuate those who are likely to be displaced.

He advised chiefs and village administrators to create public awareness among the local community on the expected heavy rains.

The CC at the same time disclosed that parts of Malaba Central in Teso North have already been affected with the rains pounding the County for the past four days. “We are going to establish the impact of the floods and we have already tasked the Sub County security team to visit the area,’’ he said.

Ruto further said that the Bunyala Sub County Disaster Committee has also been mandated to check the status of the dykes at Lake Kanyaboli so that it does not wreak havoc in the area again.

Busia Chief Officer in the Office of the Governor Mr. Solomon Abwaku urged the local residents to heed all information given to them by their leaders about El Nino.

“As a County, we will make sure that we accord them all kinds of assistance required during El Nino,” he said adding that a Secretariat will be established at the County headquarters to coordinate all issues on the scourge.

Courtesy; KNA