The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) broke ground today for its new regional offices and Response Coordination Centres at the HOMAWASCO compound in Homa Bay town, marking a significant step in bolstering disaster management and rescue services in the Lake Victoria Basin.
The ceremony, led by KRCS Secretary General Dr. Idris Ahmed and Homa Bay Deputy Governor Hon. Joseph Oyugi Magwanga, signals a strengthened partnership between the humanitarian organization and local government to address the region’s recurring challenges, particularly flooding.
The new facility aims to enhance coordination between KRCS and government agencies, ensuring swift and effective responses to emergencies.
Dr. Idris Ahmed emphasized the strategic importance of the hub, stating, “This move will ensure proper coordination between the Kenya Red Cross and government agencies for smooth delivery of our mandate in response to disaster and rescue needs.”
He also highlighted a unique feature of the facility: a dedicated section for youth empowerment, designed to foster creativity and skills development for wealth creation, offering hope and opportunity to the region’s young population.
Homa Bay County, nestled along the shores of Lake Victoria, is particularly vulnerable to flooding, with areas like Wang’chieng ward in Karachuonyo constituency and parts of Suba North, Suba South, and Rangwe constituencies frequently displaced during rainy seasons.
Deputy Governor Magwanga underscored the facility’s role in addressing these challenges, noting, “The facility is going to respond to emergencies such as rescuing and supporting residents who are affected by floods, since parts of Homa Bay County are prone to floods during the rainy seasons.”
The region has faced heightened flooding since 2019, exacerbated by climate change and the El Niño phenomenon in 2023 and 2024, which disrupted food security, health, and nutrition across the Lake Victoria Basin.
The establishment of the hub comes at a critical time. Recent reports indicate that the March-April-May 2024 rains displaced 4,535 people in Homa Bay County alone, with three active displacement sites still operational.
The broader Lake Victoria Basin, including Kisumu, Busia, and Migori counties, has seen similar challenges, with 54,000 people across six counties living in displacement sites as of June 2024. The KRCS, in collaboration with UNICEF and county governments, has been actively responding through initiatives like the Nutrition Floods Response Support (NFRS) project, which has provided nutrition outreach, trained community health practitioners, and promoted Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition in Emergency (MIYCN-e) practices.
The new facility is expected to serve as a lifeline for communities, not only in Homa Bay but across the Western Kenya region, where sugarcane farming, fishing, and cultural heritage thrive alongside environmental challenges. By centralizing disaster response efforts, the hub will support rapid interventions, from evacuations to health and nutrition services, while fostering resilience through youth engagement.
Local residents expressed optimism about the project. “This centre will bring help closer to us,” said Mary Atieno, a resident of Simbi village. “When floods come, we lose so much. Knowing there’s a place to turn to gives us hope.”
As construction begins, the KRCS and Homa Bay County government are committed to ensuring the facility becomes a beacon of support for a region rich in potential yet tested by nature’s unpredictability.
