By Matilda Atieno
The county government in partnership with the University of Nairobi (UON) and De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) organized a two days stakeholders dissemination workshop on Advancing Resilience in Low-Income Housing Using Climate Change Science and Big Data Analytics (ADRELO) project, set for implementation in Kabonyo Kanyagwal ward, Ogenya sub-location in Kadibo sub-county of Kisumu.
The workshop was officially opened by the CEC Member for Governance and Administration Madam Judith Oluoch, in the company of the CEC Member for Water, Environment and Climate Change madam Maryline Agwa.
The ADRELO project, a brainchild of Prof. Shem Wandiga of UON is currently being implemented by UON in conjunction with DMU to enhance the resilience of low-income communities living in disaster-prone areas.
Kisumu has had some of the highest climate vulnerabilities, thus the need to explore the design and implementation of climate action to improve sustainable livelihoods.
In a speech presented by CEC Member, Madam Oluch, Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o appreciated the support from the University and other partners for the ADRELO project which is expected to enhance the community’s capacity for climate resilience.
The Governor acknowledged the team’s effort in ensuring the project take off in the Ogenya sub-location.,
following the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the County Government and the UON to mitigate climate change through research studies on the effects of floods especially on climate change and socio-economic, housing, and health.
According to the CEC Member Madam Agwa, the county government together with the community has so far made available 2.5 acres of land at Ogenya for the construction of the evacuation center. Ksh. 2 million has also been set aside to compensate the land owners and a proposed Ksh. 2.5 million for the construction of access roads.
The architectural spatial plan for the evacuation center can host 100 households including amenities such as an administration block, a model granary for storage and training of farmers on seed banking as well as a training center for adaptation and mitigation measures.
The workshop brought together academic institutions, state and non-state actors, and representatives of the community from the flood-prone areas in Kisumu East, Nyakach, Nyando, and Kadibo Sub-Counties.
The Universities representatives led by the Dean Faculty of Science and Technology Prof. Leonida Kerubo of UON and Dr. Suleiman Yerima of DMU committed to the success of the project that is set for completion in September this year.
The community members of Kabonyo Kanyagwal ward led by the area MCA Hon. Ben Oiko also pledged to support the initiative in all spheres stating that the evacuation center at Ogenya will bring transformative development to the County.
