After years of devastation, the long-awaited solution to the flooding crisis in West Kano, Kisumu County, is finally taking shape — not through county initiatives or NGOs, but under the leadership of President William Ruto and the influence of PS Dr. Raymond Omollo.
For decades, residents of West Kano have endured recurring floods that have displaced families, destroyed homes, and crippled livelihoods. The most recent floods left 684 households affected, with 450 houses completely destroyed in Kanyagwal.
To end this cycle of suffering, the government, through the National Water Harvesting & Storage Authority, is implementing the West Kano–Kanyagwal Flood Control Project in Ogenya Sub-location, Kadibo Sub-county.
Situated along the low-lying delta where River Nyando drains into Lake Victoria, the area is highly vulnerable to flooding and backflow from the lake. The project — now 48% complete — aims to reclaim approximately 7,000 hectares of land. It includes the construction of a 1.5-metre-high dyke stretching 3.5 kilometres, a footbridge under the CSR component, and grassing and tree planting to stabilize reclaimed zones.
Once completed, the project will protect farmlands and human settlements from frequent floods, enable the resettlement of displaced families, and safeguard vital public infrastructure such as schools, health centres, roads, markets, and places of worship in the most affected villages — Kanduru, Kanyangi, Kajowi, Wachiegwe, Kanyamuok, and Karagwel in Kanyagwal Location.
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