Flood control is one of the key mandates. We have put in place several flood control systems across main rivers that are prone to floods in the country. Flood control work involves:
• Construction of earth and gabion dykes
• Raising heights of existing dykes along various Rivers
• River drainage channels
• Seepage control on rivers
• River bank stabilization on rivers
• Construction of water pans
• Construction of check dams
• Dredging and drainage of storm water in rivers
Kapsitii Flood Control Works, where we are currently constructing a gabion dyke at 15-meter intervals, covering a total distance of 450 meters to control floods caused by storm water run-off, is well underway. Located in Sigowet – Soin Sub-County, Kericho County, in a community with a population of approximately 2,000 people, and has suffered severe effects of flush floods, these intervention measures are timely. The hilly terrain contributes to flooding and soil erosion, particularly in the lower-lying areas of Kericho and Kisumu counties.
The Authority has ensured substantial work has been done, and today, the general progress stands at 72%. The contractor is busy filing the gabion boxes with rocks/ boulders; with a target of constructing 3No. gabion wall stations per day which is equivalent to 72 gabion boxes per day.
In addition, having recognized the area as severely impacted with extensive soil erosion and has stripped much of the land of its top fertile layer, leading to significant land degradation, the Authority is making good use of the rains to plant trees along the area for land restoration.
One of the Authority’s main mandates is flood control. We are therefore committed to this key function that is very critical to the protection of lives, property, public and private infrastructure from the disastrous effects of floods.
The Authority has constructed and maintained several flood control structures which are key in the social-economic development and improvement of livelihoods. Areas protected against floods enjoy bumper harvests and other benefits from farm activities, learning is not interfered by floods and most importantly, residents are no longer displaced during flooding seasons.
With the effects of climate change, there is need to allocate more financial resources for the projects for the Authority to cover more areas and prevent floods especially along our major rivers across the country.