The County Government of Uasin Gishu has affirmed its commitment to assist residents living in flood-prone areas in case of emergency as interventions continue in affected areas.

On Wednesday, the County Executive Committee Member for Finance Mr. Micah Rogony, Health CECM Dr. Sammy Kotut, Roads CECM Eng. Joseph Lagat inspected the works done by the County operators to open waterways to channel the water that had flooded at Chembulet Health Centre as a result of heavy rain that interfered with normal services at the facility.

The County Executive Members said the initiative will go on in other affected areas like Kimumu and is aimed to channel flooding water downstream and rivers to avert damage to property in health facilities and residential areas.

“We want to assure residents that normal operations are now back at this facility but I urge our people to avoid activities that block drainages and waterways to avert such problems in the future,” said CECM Dr Kotut.

Heavy rainfall continues to pound many parts of the country and engineers and operators from the County Government of Uasin Gishu have started taking measures to open blocked drainage lines and open waterways to channel flooding water downstream in areas of slopes and shallow land.

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, “Eng Lagat noted.

Eng. Lagat said the engineers from the department have visited parts prone to flooding during heavy rainfall including Moisbridge, Kimumu, Tairi Mbili, and Maili Nne, Huruma, Kapsaos among others to listen to views from residents and assessed the situation. The works to open blocked drainages in slopes and shallow land has begun.

The CECMs added that his team had identified sites for improvement and the work has kicked off in most affected areas.

We have experienced heavy rainfall in the past few days, raising a possibility of flooding in some areas, we are taking early measures to avoid the effects associated with climate change,” said Eng Lagat.

The three CECMs 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 and assistance in case of emergency to avert damages.

CECM Finance Micah Rogony thanked the management of the facility for providing a complaint phone number for the area residents noting that the move should be emulated in all the facilities across the county.