By Shammah Oketch
County Government of Siaya Strengthens Disaster Preparedness Ahead of OND Rains
The County Government of Siaya has intensified preparations for the October-November-December (OND) rainfall season, with stakeholders reviewing the County’s Multi-Hazard Contingency Plan to strengthen preparedness and response to possible disasters.
The meeting focused on strengthening coordination among county departments and other stakeholders, with emphasis on early warning, preventive measures, evacuation arrangements and timely response to emergencies.
The meeting was attended by Acting County Secretary Ms. Elizabeth Adongo; CECM for Governance, Administration and ICT Joseph Rading Otieno; CECM for Agriculture, Irrigation, Food, Livestock and Fisheries Hon. Willis Okoth Ochieng; CECM for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development Augustine Neto Adhola; and CECM for Water, Environment, Climate Change, Irrigation and Natural Resources Prof. Jacqueline Oduol, alongside County Commissioner Nobert Jera and members of the County Disaster Management Committee.
Hon. Okoth emphasized the need for clearly defined roles for every department and stakeholder to ensure effective coordination before, during and after emergencies.
Ms. Adongo stressed the importance of early preparedness for evacuation, including identifying vulnerable communities and ensuring that suitable evacuation arrangements are in place before emergencies occur.
The meeting also highlighted preventive measures such as clearing drainage channels, maintaining access roads, protecting water sources and strengthening public awareness to reduce the impact of floods and other disasters.
The stakeholders reaffirmed the need for coordinated action, timely information sharing and effective public communication to strengthen Siaya’s preparedness and protect communities throughout the OND rainfall season.