Kakamega
By Richard Milimu
Residents living along flooded rivers in Kakamega County will be evacuated to alternative places by the national government. This is to prevent further loss of lives caused by flooding rivers.
This is according to devolution minister Eugene Wamalwa. He made these remarks during an impromptu visit to victims affected by the floods in the county.
For now we have to evacuate locals to prevent further loss of lives, in the past many people have frustrated our efforts of evacuating locals, the government has set aside funds to facilitate the process and we urge everyone to cooperate, Said Wamalwa.
According to the CS the government commitment in ensuring the safety of its citizens during the floods will not be frustrated by cultural beliefs. He condemned locals who had refused to evacuate flooded areas on the pretext of cultural believes.
“They claim they can’t live from their ancestral land living behind their fore fathers graves,” said Wamalwa.
More than 1,000 families have been affected by the floods from Nzoia, Yala and Kipkaren rivers sweeping away the bridge linking Kakamega and Bungoma counties.
This has halted road transport between the two counties.
Wamalwa said the land taken from the victims would be used to build dams. He also promised compensation from the affected families.
“They will be evacuated to highland areas and we shall compensate them” said Wamalwa.
Echoing similar statements, Senator Cleophas Malala urged the government to fast track the process of having compulsory acquisition law used in ensuring that western region has a dam pitched.
“Just like in other regions their multibillion dams constructed, we want our own in western region,” said Malala.
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