Delayed rehabilitation of weak dykes worries locals

Dykes that were constructed along River Nzoia in Budalang'i to control flow of water following perennial flooding. [Ignatius Odanga, Standrad]

The Government is yet to rehabilitate dykes in Budalang'i despite the fact that the rainy season is approaching. This is causing jitters in the flood-prone constituency. 

The dykes that were constructed to prevent overflow from River Nzoia have been weakened by water and human activity.

It is believed some people vandalised the multi-billion shilling dykes by excavating soil from a section of the barriers to create way for trucks that carry sand harvested from River Nzoia.

World Bank is to fund the Sh10 billion Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project as a solution to the perennial floods and enhance agriculture in Budalang’i. Despite the contractor being on the site for more than one year, the multi-billion water project has not taken off. 

Fredrick Opiyo from Bunyala North told The Standard dykes that prevented water from overflowing to their homes were too weak to hold water.

Mr Opiyo said locals thought implementation of the Lower Nzoia Water Project would start last year after the then Water and Irrigation ministry signed a Sh10 billion contract in November 2017.

“We knew that a long-term solution to the perennial flooding in Budalang’i had been found, but the delayed implementation of the project is killing our hope,” he said.

The scope of work was to include construction of permanent dykes to control floods and enhance farming as more than 10,000 acres of land would be put under irrigation. 

The project was expected to start in February last year, with at least Sh1.2 billion going towards compensation to those displaced.

Samwel Magoba, a former civil servant, said they hoped to benefit immensely from the Sh10 billion project but the delayed start of work was killing morale.

“We deserve to be told what is happening. The rainy season is fast approaching but dykes have not been constructed,” said Mr Magoba. Water and Irrigation Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu said the contract amount for the dykes project was Sh1.4 billion