Maseno University is kick-starting the implementation of a Sh114 million Floods Disaster Risk Reduction project in Bunyala, Busia County.
The project that runs for two years is funded by the African Development Bank.
It aims at enhancing the better management of risks and disasters associated with floods in Budalangi in Western Kenya and to reduce the impact of floods on local households and communities.
Mathews Dida, Director of Publications, Research and Innovation at Maseno University said the project will enhance the capacity of the Busia County government institutions, community organisations and other stakeholders to manage such risks.
“We believe this project has the potential to contribute to the reduction and mitigation of floods in the region that would lead to better livelihood, income and provide a safer environment to the people," he recently said.
Speaking during the launch in Kisumu, Mr Dida said after successful implementation of the first phase, the project will move to other flood prone areas within the region including Kisumu County.
Denis Opondo the Project Technical lead from Maseno University said the main objective of the project is to develop a system for flood hazard and vulnerability assessment and mapping to provide information for enhanced flood risk and disaster management.
Mr Opondo said the project also aims at integrating flood Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) into technical flood disaster forecasting and flood early warning systems for county level planning and in local community organisations.
“This will be through determining and documenting relevant ITK on coping and adaptation to flood impacts; establish an integrated flood early warning system used by county government and community organisations and training and deployment of flood disaster risk database management team," he said.
He said Maseno University will build the capacity of households and community groups on flood preparedness, response and participation in disaster risk management and information sharing.
“We want to establish an institution at the local level called disaster management team. Its members will be trained on the use of database management system so that they can do things to avert negative impacts on their lives."
The project has four components. It will deal with the establishment and operation of a hydro-meteorological database management system for flood risk analysis, mapping and response.