Kakamega County has exhausted its emergency fund and is now relying on the national government to deal with emergencies and disasters related to the current floods, officials said.
About 500 people were forced to evacuate and are living in a camp in Likuyani after the Kipsangi River burst its banks on Tuesday night, flooding their homes.
Public service executive Benjamin Andama said another 1,000 people could be evacuated in Maraba due to flooding from the Nzoia River and surface water flowing from the Nadi Escarpment if the rains continue.
County Commissioner Lawrence Omuhaka said the county government is preparing a report to send to the Governor's Council for assistance to flood victims.
“We are in the process of preparing an estimate of what our situation is and what we need so that we can send it to the central government for assistance,” he said.
“The law only sets aside 2% of the annual budget for emergencies, so the budget set aside for disaster response has already been exhausted,” he said.
President William Ruto had asked parliamentarians to hand over Sh10.6 billion to respond to the floods that have already claimed more than 300 lives and displaced thousands across the country.
Omuhaka said the county had to deal with repairing bridges and roads damaged by heavy rains in the past few weeks.
Some residents of Likuyani, Navahoro, Kwaiselo and Mumias West were forced to move from their homes as the Nzoia, Yala and Kipsangi rivers overflowed their banks.
In Navahoro, residents of Sikbale village in Bunyala West District moved from their homes to a camp at Sikbale Primary School on Tuesday evening after the Nzoia River burst its embankment, flooding homes, destroying crops and washing away livestock.
Residents of Rupele village in Likuyani district are camping at Likuyani Joy Baptist Church after the Kipsangi River flooded their homes on Tuesday.
Service delivery officer Dr Fitalis Masakwe said the county government was working on a detailed disaster management plan in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross Society to deal with the current floods.
He said these plans include the establishment of rescue centers and disaster emergency camps to house people who have been forced to flee their homes.
