By Tobias Ogutu
One of the plains in Kenya is the Kano Plains, located in the Nyanza Region of Kisumu County. These plains are characterized by flat, low-lying land. The main challenge the area faces is flooding during heavy rainfall. Additionally, the Kano Plains are covered with black cotton soil.
This means that it retains water for a longer period, which is why Kano experiences flooding during the rainy season. The issue of flooding in Kano has made headlines every year, and it appears to have overwhelmed the government’s efforts to resolve it. Despite the four presidents who have served, none of their administrations has found a permanent solution to the flooding in Kano.
The irony is that the residents of Kano possess what they believe will solve their problems and have been presenting these solutions to successive governments over the years. However, it is the government that has failed to implement their plans. Joseph Obura of Kasule, during the burial of the retired chief in the presence of their area Member of Parliament (MP), openly stated that the problem of flooding in Kano would be best solved if the government constructed large underground tanks.
According to Joseph, the underground tanks should be made of concrete and will collect all the surface runoff water during the rainy season. The collected water can then be used for irrigation during the dry season. Many residents echoed Joseph’s sentiments, and Mzee Azael Sule accused the government of knowing what to do but failing to act.
Mzee Azael Sule explained that every rainy season, various Nyando MPs request funds from different organizations, claiming to use them to address the flooding problem in Kano. However, the funds are often diverted for personal use. Milka Nyamema, a local resident, openly described the flooding issue in Kano as a business venture from which every Nyando MP profits. She further stated that the MPs from the Nyando region do not want the flooding problem to be resolved, as it provides them with a platform to raise motions in parliament.
The unfortunate issue that angers many people in Kano is that whenever a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) arrives to propose a permanent solution to their flooding problem, the current government prevents them from doing so. According to the people of Kano, this is a significant injustice perpetrated by the government.
