Real Risk

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LOODING IS A

recurrent phenomenon in Nyando, one of

the 12 districts in Nyanza Province, Western Kenya. The

Sondu Miriu, Nyando, Awach and Ombei rivers drain

from the Nandi Hills where high rainfall is received to Lake

Victoria through the Kano Plains and are a major cause of persis-

tent flooding along their banks as they approach the lake with

devastating effects. As per the assessment made after recent

floods in the Kano plains, the average annual damage is about

USD850,000 with annual relief and rehabilitation measures

costing USD600,000.

The area supports a large rural popula-

tion (75 per cent) and the stage of economic growth is

undermined by high absolute poverty levels (69 per cent), dete-

riorating infrastructure and an HIV pandemic (19-29 per cent)

over the past decade.

While most studies in the area have concentrated on the physi-

cal aspects of the flood disasters, this study shifted focus and

instead chose to explore constructs of flood risk by investigating

community involvement in flood management.

The main objec-

tive of the study was to investigate community flood risk

perceptions and response in relation to flood disaster management.

Methodology

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Both quantitative

techniques (questionnaires and structured interviews) and qual-

itative data collection methods (focus group discussions and key

informant interviews) were applied. A list of frequently flooded

areas in the region was drawn and two categories, ‘most-prone’

and ‘medium-prone’ were selected to give a wider coverage to

the sample with a view to accommodating risk level variability.

Based on risk levels, 264 questionnaires were administered in

the most-prone areas termed ‘high risk’, and 264 questionnaires

administered in the medium-prone areas, which were termed

‘low risk’.

Demographic and socio-economic characteristics

Respondents of all ages (18 to over 60) were represented in the

household survey. The survey indicates that the main occupation

of most households (63.3 per cent) is subsistence farming, which

is fairly typical of the general population. The modal gross family

income was below KES2,500 (USD35), which represents 72.8 per

cent of households. Only 6.3 per cent earned above KES10,000

(USD140). These low-income levels among the study population

may be attributed to low levels of education with only a quarter

(24.5 per cent) having gone beyond primary level. This trend could

be associated with slow economic progress and low income per

capita in the area.

Research findings/results

Data from this study reveals only 8.7 per cent of the respondents

first become aware of impeding floods through official means. The

rest rely on informal flood detection techniques. They predicted

floods by observing changes in weather patterns and river levels.

Nearly 96 per cent of respondents reported their most recent

flood experience in years 2002 and 2003 (5.8 per cent), 2004 (28.4

per cent), 2005 (47.2 per cent) and the most recent in 2006 (9.5

per cent). The seven emergency flood risks and their response

measures considered in this study were damage to shelter, loss of

crops, shortage of food, loss of livestock, prevalence of disease,

Community perceptions and response to flood

risks in Nyando district, Western Kenya

Hellen Nyakundi, Dr Isaac Mwanzo, Dr A. Yitambe and Stephen Mogere, Kenyatta University, Kenya

Nyando community using sand bags to block eroded Nyando river bank

Photo: Flood Control Unit,

Ministry of Water and Natural Resources, Kenya

Widening the Nyando river

Photo: Flood Control Unit,

Ministry of Water and Natural Resources, Kenya