Residents of Kisumu County in flood-prone areas have been advised to clear drainage trenches next to their homes to ease the flow of run-off water.
Governor Jack Ranguma said the flood waters can cause serious damages to houses and other property during rainy seasons.
“Most of the damage we have witnessed during rainy season is caused by flood waters that occur as a result of poor drainage. Let us clear our drainages to allow flood water to flow freely to the lake,” he said.
Ranguma said with El Nino being expected to hit the region, it is important that families from areas prone to flooding open up drainage systems within their areas.
Speaking in his office in Kisumu on Tuesday, the governor said the county government has a constrained budget aimed at cushioning locals from the adverse effects of flooding.
He said the community must now rise up and give their inputs towards mitigating the flood menace.
“Our budget is small and I want to appeal to the locals to join hands and ensure that drainage trenches are unclogged,” he said.
Ranguma announced that already some of the rivers emptying into Lake Victoria have been dredged.
Already some families have been temporarily displaced by the flash floods over the weekend in Muhoroni constituency as rains continue to pound parts of Western Kenya.