500 families flee as River Nzoia bursts its banks

Over 500 families have been displaced in the flood-prone Budalang’i as heavy rains pound western Kenya.

Special Programmes Permanent secretary Ali Mohamed said many more could be displaced following the bursting of River Nzoia’s banks.

“The ministry has taken steps to provide non-food assistance to mitigate the effects of the disaster,” he said.
Relief supplies

In West Pokot district, a bridge linking a village where 14 people were killed by a mudslide has been destroyed cutting off relief supplies.

Sigor MP Wilson Litole said security personnel and relief agencies could not reach the affected families.

Speaking to the Nation from Burundi where he is on official duties, Mr Litole appealed to the government to reconstruct the Sigor bridge.

In Trans Nzoia, the Kenya Red Cross district coordinator Mr George Oloo said 200 families had been displaced in Namanjalala area, when raging waters destroyed their houses.

The displaced people have been relocated to Lesos, Namanjalala centre and Kitale town, he added.

At the same time prolonged rains pounding North Rift area have disrupted maize harvesting activity in the region.

Downpour

For the past three weeks, the area has experienced continued downpour forcing farmers to suspend harvesting.

In Bunyala district, acting DC Kimaru Kemboi said the most affected areas are Makunda, Magombe and Igingo in Bunyala South. 

“At the moment learning is going on but panic is high  and we are contemplating moving the candidates from Makunda to Mukhobola which is normally not affected by floods,” the acting DC said.

Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba asked the government to move in fast and replace the dykes which he said had outlived their usefulness since they were constructed over 30 years ago.

Mr Namwamba asked the Kenya flood mitigation programme to put more emphasis in assisting the locals instead of engaging in unending workshops at the expense of vital projects.

“We want to see them concentrate on actual activities  that benefit the locals,” the MP said.

Last year,  more than 30,000 people were displaced when River Nzoia broke its banks  at Bwalwanga.