Stuck in Waters: Who is to be Blamed?

STUCK IN WATERS: WHO IS TO BE BLAMED?

It is a cry for help. Residents of Nyalenda Kapuothe, Nanga, and Dunga areas along River Wigwa, Nyamasaria, and the shores of Lake Victoria are in limbo with no one to turn to. In our interviews with some community members of Kapuothe, it became clear that many concerns have been raised by different community members and whistleblowers, but nothing has been done. To our surprise, various politicians, from the top office to the lower office, have also visited the community with numerous promises, but none have been delivered. The flooding in the Kapuothe area requires a quick response from those concerned before the entire community is “submerged.”

What are the causes of flooding in the area?

Since the area lies along water bodies and extends to Lake Victoria, River Nyamasaria feeding into River Alewa at Kapuothe is the main cause of the flooding. River Nyamasaria is wide at the source but narrows towards River Alewa, causing a backflow of water into the community. Other rivers affecting the area are Wigwa, Ohuru, Rip Ondiek, and Agengo, all flowing into the lake. When the lake is full, as witnessed recently, it forces these rivers to backflow, flooding the community.

Other causes of the floods, as identified by community members, include nepotism and political injustices, human activities such as encroachment on riparian lands and building on waterways, politicizing the disaster, and politicians using the flood disaster as a campaigning tool. There are also disagreements among community members, with leaders exploiting the situation to delay projects.

The ongoing disaster in the area over several years has exposed community members to various challenges and problems. Some of the effects of the floods, as reported by residents, are:

• Displacement of people and destruction of properties; over 5,000 families have been forced out of their homes and many houses destroyed.
• Destruction of farmlands and crops, thereby affecting food production in the area, which serves as a food source for Kisumu City.
• Outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as bilharzia, cholera, and increased cases of malaria.
• Conflicts with wild animals such as snakes, crocodiles, and hippopotamuses.

Community Resolutions and Way Forward.

Nyalenda community members in a disaster risk management meeting organized

Photo Courtesy: Kisumu, kyctv

In a meeting held on 30/05/2024 at Nyalenda K.A.G church by Muungano Wa Wanavijiji/SDI-KENYA, the community members proposed resolutions and strategies to address the issue. Some of the resolutions were:

• Capacity building, community mobilization, and engagement.
• Physical land planning and land use mapping of highly vulnerable areas.
• Construction of gabions to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.
• Community compliance with designated wetlands as wildlife corridors.
• Planting bamboo along rivers for water purification.
• Using water masters to control river flow, starting from the lake towards the source.

In addressing the backflow issue in River Nyamasaria, some community members have attempted to respond to the situation using sacks filled with soil supported by sticks and logs, but with limited success.

Caption: Response measures taken by the community

Photo credit: KYCTV

The action plan formulated during the meeting includes:

• Formation of a community disaster risk reduction team comprising 20 members, 10 from Nyalenda A and 10 from Nyalenda B. Their mandate includes organizing the community, monitoring and reporting on disasters, mapping and profiling affected individuals, and coordinating with government agencies for response and mitigation measures.
• Consultation involving more stakeholders for multi-stakeholder involvement.
• Participation in public consultations and prioritization of projects.
• Development of an adaptation plan.

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