Over three thousand residents of Isiolo County living in Merti Sub-County have received support to help prevent recurring floods.
Efforts by the Cherab community in Merti Sub-County to stop River Ewaso Ngiro from changing its course or breaking it banks have gained momentum after the Merti Integrated Development Authority (MID P) donated four million shillings to the local flood management committee through the Reversing the Flow Project.
The financial assistance comes at a crucial time, with rains expected to begin within a week. The support is expected to help more than 3,000 residents continue their normal lives during the upcoming rainy season.
Residents expressed optimism that the funds would be properly utilized to end the persistent flooding problem that occurs when River Ewaso Ngiro breaks its banks. In the past, heavy flooding led to the loss of property worth millions and displacement of hundreds of households, cutting off many parts of Merti from the rest of Isiolo for several weeks.
According to Omar Sama, chairperson of the Cherab Flood Committee, residents have been working on riverbank mitigation through their own initiatives, which have shown positive results. They have been contributing about 200,000 shillings to pay workers who manually create diversions for the river flow.
Resident Hassan Golo recounted his losses during the previous floods a year ago, which left many neighboring households submerged and destroyed. He noted that most residents had already moved to higher ground for safety.
Another resident, Mumina Hussein, recalled the devastation caused by the floods and thanked MIDP for taking action that would help affected families return to their homes. She added that residents could now live without constant fear, as the unpredictable flooding had made life difficult.
Ibrahim Kabelo, the MIDP project manager, stated that more than 1,000 households were displaced during previous floods, often caused by heavy rains upstream. He emphasized that the project is a locally led initiative designed to empower residents to manage and address the challenges they face daily.
Kabelo added that the funds, which will autonomously be managed by the flood committee, will primarily be directed to hiring heavy machinery to build barriers and open blocked river pathways.
Kabelo added that while residents would continue using manual labor, they would also hire machinery to assist where manual methods are insufficient, especially in areas where the river has altered its course due to sand buildup and human activity.
