The County government of Kisumu has been urged to construct dams upstream to mitigate the effects of El Nino rains that is currently poundings parts of the country.
Kenya Meteorological Department deputy director Rose Ojala said El Nino will have adverse effects on the locals and that must be addressed.
Ojala said locals will be exposed to long drought spell after El Nino and water will be scarce.
“This is the opportunity to tap this water and store it in the dams instead of running downstream to cause destruction of property and loss of lives,” she said.
Speaking in Kisumu on Wednesday during a conference on meteorological research, applications and services, Ojala said the county must maximise on the opportunities that the long rains brings.
Kisumu County governor Jack Ranguma said the county is working closely with the national government to put up the dams.
Ranguma said the process has kicked off with a public participation as enshrined in the new constitution.
He supported the idea noting that the tapped water will be used for farming and other domestic chores.
“We are in the process of starting the construction of two dams upstream, already we are engaging the people up there and soon we will roll it out,” he said.
Ranguma said the county will have sufficient food if farmers embrace irrigation to farm horticultural produce and other food and cash crops.