Residents of Ogenya Village in Nyando Constituency, Kisumu County, have begun rebuilding their homes following the near completion of flood control dykes by the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority (NWHSA).

The residents have demolished most of the temporary camps that were erected after River Nyando floods submerged their land, forcing families to live in displacement camps within their ancestral land.

The area has for years experienced perennial flooding caused by backflow from Lake Victoria and overflow from three deltas formed where River Nyando empties into the lake.

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During last year’s floods, at least 684 households were affected and displaced, while more than 7,000 hectares of land were submerged, destroying crops, livestock and homes. NWHSA project supervisor Wambui Mwangi said the West Kano Flood Control Project is almost complete.

“The project started in August 2025 and was scheduled to take six months. We have completed most of the works, with only 400 metres remaining,” Mwangi said.



She said the project has been well received by residents, noting that the dykes will significantly reduce flooding caused by lake backflow.

“We have constructed 3.1 kilometres of dykes and only 400 metres are pending. This project will mitigate flooding across the entire Kanyagwal location and reclaim about 7,000 hectares of land,” she said.


Mwangi added that the dyke has been raised to one metre to clearly mark the boundary between Lake Victoria and human settlement. Resident Clement Odiko said the project has already transformed lives in the area.

“Since this project was initiated, I have rebuilt my house, increased my livestock and resumed farming. I am happy with the government’s intervention,” Odiko said.



On one side of the dyke, new houses are coming up, crops are growing on farms, and goats and cattle can be seen grazing.


NWHSA Chief Executive Officer Engineer Julius Mugun said the authority remains committed to implementing sustainable flood control measures to protect lives and livelihoods in flood-prone regions.

“As the Authority embarks on robust programme of enabling the Government agenda of food security, farmers who perennially gets displaced because of flowing water, overspilling river banks and inundating the farms will be protected and crops will have chance to grow to maturity.,” he said.