By Matilda Atieno
Stakeholders converged earlier today for a one-day workshop focused on validating the flood risk assessment for the vulnerable Wigwa-Auji Creek. The meeting marked a key step in a pre-feasibility study aimed at identifying and prioritizing necessary measures and investments for integrated flood and climate risk management in Kisumu City.
As the third-largest city in Kenya, Kisumu is highly exposed to climate hazards, with floods and droughts being the most common risks. The workshop highlighted that seasonal floods routinely affect parts of Nyanza and Western provinces, especially around the Lake Victoria basin. This risk is intensified by rapid urbanization, inadequate drainage, inefficient waste collection, and uncontrolled development in settlements such as Nyalenda A and B.
The technical study focused on the Auji-Wigwa Creek, a perennial stream originating in the Kajulu Hills that flows through highly populated areas, including Migosi ward, Manyatta B Ward, and Nyalenda A and Nyalenda B ward, before reaching Lake Victoria’s Winam Gulf.
Experts noted that not only is the creek under threat from pollution, raw sewage seepage, and fertilizer runoff, but the essential wetland buffer is also facing “unprecedented threats from economic development, human encroachment, and conversion to other land uses.”
The study was financed by Gap Fund through the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) in collaboration with GIZ Kenya.
The workshop was graced by the Deputy City Manager, Mr. Charles Omondi, who, on behalf of the City Manager, commended the partners and consultants for the work done, noting that the assessment provides short-term actions towards flood management along Auji Creek and Nyamasaria River and that the data is significant in city planning efforts.
The main objective of the workshop is to present and validate technical findings based on three key areas of the flood risk assessment:
• Hazard: Information on the location, extent, magnitude, and frequency of river and lake flooding events.
• Exposure: Identification of the assets, populations, and infrastructure exposure to risk.
• Vulnerability: Information on how the identified assets react to the effects of the hazard.
The report presented to the Deputy City Manager included results for data analysis, flood modelling for various scenarios, and risk assessment mapping, including the preliminary flood hazard maps.
In his remarks, the Chief Officer for Water, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Mr. Erick Ogallo, called for efforts in promoting behavior change among community members, advising that the stakeholders, together with the technical staff, should work together to salvage the Auji Creek flood risk.
Following the technical presentations, the workshop transitioned into a plenary session where stakeholders provided feedback on potential hard (including nature-based) and soft intervention measures, along with the criteria for their selection.
The gathering served to update partners and prepare for the next key deliverable, “Identification and Prioritization of Investment Options”. The project also recommended policy interventions to address the capacity building and knowledge transfer for County technical staff on GIS, flood risk assessment, and the implementation of nature-based solutions.
The event saw participation from government and community representatives, including staff from the City Planning and Engineering Departments, County Government departments, including Water, Environment, climate change and Natural Resources, Lands and Physical Planning Department, KIWASCO and National Government agencies WRA Lake Victoria South, NEMA, and Community-Based Organisations WRUA Kibos, WRUA Auji, CBO United Destiny Shapers.
The workshop final output will be an updated flood risk assessment report, ensuring that flood protection measures for Auji Creek are developed with informed stakeholder participation.