The Uasin Gishu County government through the Department of Roads, Transport and Public Works has announced its preparedness to support residents living in flood-prone areas in the event of emergency as a result of the heavy downpour experienced across the county. The county administration has already started taking precautionary measures like unblocking drainage lines and waterways to channel flooding water downstream from sloppy areas to shallow lands. The County Executive Member for Roads, Transport and Public Works Eng. Joseph Lagat who led a team of engineers at Moi’s bridge ward in assessing areas prone to floods, while at the same time collecting views from residents on sites that needed improvement, said the move is aimed at ensuring flood waters flow downstream to avert damage to life and property in the residential areas. ‘We are using our county heavy machines like backhoes to ensure that water is properly channelled to streams and rivers in areas prone to flooding. The biggest challenge is in areas where residents have built houses on waterways,’ he noted. Eng. Lagat said the engineers from the department had visited areas prone to flooding during heavy rains like Moi’s bridge, Kimumu, Tairi Mbili, Maili Nne among others and assessed the situation on the ground. The team managed to identify sites for improvement and the work had kicked off in most affected areas. ‘We have experienced heavy rainfall in the past few days, raising the possibility of flooding in some areas, so, we are taking early measures to avoid the effects associated with climate change,’ he noted. He urged the residents to contact the sub-county and ward administrators and also reach out to other county government officers at the ward level for immediate action in case of emergency.

Source: Kenya News Agency