Webuye flood victims receive food relief

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2012-01-09 20:52:00 Read 208 Times

Webuye MP Alfred Sambu (left) and District Commisioner Adan Gedow  shaking hands after handing over the donations. [Photo|Rosemary Wachiye|West Fm] 24 families, 18 from Khalala village in Sitikho ward and 6 from Mufunje village in Milo ward all found in Webuye Constituency who were affected from floods with the bursting of river Nzoia banks in October last year, Monday received foodstuffs from the government through the Ministry of special programs. It’s reported that the affected families had not received any help from the government since most funding and help was sent to the most affected area in Budalangi in Busia. The Webuye Member of Parliament Mr. Alfred Sambu and District Commissioner for Bungoma East District Mr. Adan Gedow together with other leaders represented the Ministry for Special programs in distributing the food to the affected families. Sambu called upon the government to find a permanent solution to the flooding crisis that continually affect people in the mentioned regions every year. “The permanent solution for the flooding crisis is the construction of a dam at Tongaren in Bungoma North district as it was proposed earlier,” said Sambu. According to Sambu, the dam will control the flow of water in the rivers and prevent the flooding from occurring, at the same time it would improve agriculture and horticulture in the region where it would be set up. He dismissed the leaders who had earlier on come out strongly against the project stating that they are misinformed since the most important issue is finding an amicable and long-term solution that will help save a larger population. [Read: Proposed Nzoia Dam opposed in Bungoma westfm.co.ke/mobile/index.php]  “Those against the dam construction in Bungoma North have not considered the plight of the residents in the affected regions that face the destruction of property and household every year,” said Sambu. He disclosed that those behind the argument that the displacement of the people next to the region where the dam is to be constructed away from their ancestral land and trying to find excuses with no foundation. He advised the government to purchase land for those affected, equivalent to the original size and also construct houses for them instead of giving them the money for the sake of fairness and for justice to prevail. The District Commissioner Mr.Gedow called upon the people who had received the donation to use sparingly to avoid wastage. According to Mr.Gedow, the flooding had occurred from the people living close to the river instead of following the requirement of living 30 metres away from any water body. Among those who attended the event, was the Webuye Municipal Mayor Mr. Ali Machani, Milo councilor Erick Soita and Sitikho ward councilor, Mr. Martin Wafula among other administrators.