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Floods and droughts: Turkana West residents caught between two extreme ironies of nature
A resident of Turkana carries farming tools on her way to her sorghum crops in an arid area in Nanyee, near Lodwar. Turkana is one of the counties worst hit by drought.
What you need to know:
- Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai said that a mega dam can also save sections of Kakuma Refugee Camp and the host community next to Tarach River from flooding, as well as address water needs for the increasing population at the fast-growing Kakuma-Kalobeyei Municipality.
- "We receive unpredictable rains in Turkana, and any efforts to harvest water will ensure sustainable food production for both refugees and the host community. We need the largest dam in East Africa to be constructed in Turkana for Sh6 billion to mitigate the effects of climate change," Mr Lomorukai said.
Ms Zipporah Imuse has for the past six months been relying on limited relief food supplies, occasionally begging her neighbors to keep her family of six at Lopiding village in Lokichoggio Sub County going.
Her husband, just like many men in the village, migrated to neighboring Uganda for pasture and water, leaving her with a handful of young goats and sheep that she was to take care of, with the hope that they would mature so that she could sell and buy food.
The nine goats and sheep were yet to regain health when flash floods swept them away last Wednesday, Ms Imuse told Nation.Africa.
Turkana West residents are caught between two extreme ironies of nature’s vicious cycle that constantly keep them on the edge.
Ms Imuse says it is like the drought set the stage for severe flooding by making the soil dry and compacted, a situation that reduced its ability to absorb water, thereby increasing runoff.
"The rains began at midnight, and in less than an hour, we experienced floods from the Mogilla ranges that not only washed away our goats, sheep, and chickens but also destroyed several homes and manyatta shops."
Mr James Losinyen said that the flooding also destroyed roads leading to the village, locking out emergency support from authorities at Lokichoggio.
Besides Lopiding, Lokitela, and Nasinyono villages were also among the most hit after houses were destroyed by flash floods.
An opinion leader from Lokichoggio, Mr Moses Alot, appealed to the County Government of Turkana, the National Government, and well-wishers to urgently intervene, noting that the rains have just started.
"Many families don't have basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing. The floods did not just sweep away their livestock but also destroyed shops that would have supported those who had cash with food supplies," Mr Alot said.
He distributed food supplies to more than 80 families, noting that more support is needed as school children have also lost vital learning materials.
He said that the Kakuma-Nasinyono road was severely affected by flash floods, as it is currently muddy, a situation that has affected transport and trading activities.
At Lokitela village, he said that many children always miss classes as they won't cross over St. Teresa Primary whenever seasonal rivers flood.
Ms Margaret Loyaman said that it was time for development partners, the devolved unit, and the national government to invest in water harvesting structures like big dams at the affected villages, as during drought, they face acute shortages of water.
Turkana County government efforts to protect Lokangae village from massive destruction associated with flash floods are paying off.
This is after Turkana County Chief Officer in charge of roads, Mark Achilla, said that they mobilized machinery that includes a bulldozer and excavator to divert the Tarach river whenever it floods, displacing hundreds of people at Lokangae village.
"Our staff camped on the ground working hard to divert the river so that whenever it floods it drains into the Lotikipi Basin Aquifer, destroying property and displacing families," Mr Achilla said.
He said that the village used to flood because the water channel had been blocked by silt and fast-growing but highly invasive Prosopis multiflora.
He said that they diverted the river 40 metres from the river banks and appealed to the development partners to support the initiative to protect the recently hit villages.
Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai said that a mega dam can also save sections of Kakuma Refugee Camp and the host community next to Tarach River from flooding, as well as address water needs for the increasing population at the fast-growing Kakuma-Kalobeyei Municipality.
"We receive unpredictable rains in Turkana, and any efforts to harvest water will ensure sustainable food production for both refugees and the host community. We need the largest dam in East Africa to be constructed in Turkana for Sh6 billion to mitigate the effects of climate change," Mr Lomorukai said.