Mighty Tana unleashes its wrath

• DC sends relief to 40 families marooned in camp by floods in a mission of mercy dash

The rage of the swollen River Tana has displaced scores of villagers in Garsen, Tana Delta district.

About 40 families in Hafeji village are living in camps, hoping that the waters subside.

The residents of villages next to the mighty river are torn between heeding government calls to run to the hills and staying behind to salvage the crops on the farms.

In Galilee, Gomesa, Onkalde, Konimana, Mathomba and Dume villages, the story was the same — watching the rising flood waters with apprehension. Maize farms have been flooded, diminishing hopes of a bumper harvest.

With nowhere to go, the men, women and children are camping in grass and wood structures. They have barely enough food.

Mzee Dhidha Maro Barisa, 56, who spoke on behalf of the families said: “We cannot leave this place as we are not being told where to go. We will stay here and go back to our homes once the flood waters go down.”

Councillor Gure Gollo of Garsen Central ward said people were hesitant to heed government orders to leave their homes.

“Besides sounding the warnings, both the Red Cross and the government seem not to have any plans to help people displaced by the floods,” he said in his Garsen town office.

However, the society’s Tana Delta district coordinator said relief consignments were on the way from Hola.

Tana Delta district commissioner Elias Gitonga sent in the relief team led by Garsen district officer Alex Kiogora Mureithi to help the 40 families in Hafeji village. The team included Red Cross and World Vision officials.

The DC said: “Everything is in place and once we know what the people need, they will be assisted.”

The relief agencies have set up base at the DC’s headquarters from where the relief effort is to be coordinated.

The DC said Ministry of Water officials were closely monitoring the Tana River water level and relaying information to teams downstream.

“That way, we will know that floods are imminent and take action,” the DC said.

In Trans Nzoia, more than 400 families have been displaced by floods and more than 100 marooned while 34 others had been evacuated. Floods have destroyed more than 90 acres of crops.

The Kenya Red Cross Society public relations and communication officer. Ms Nelly Muluka, said Namanjalala, Chepchoina, and Liavo were especially badly hit.

She said Kepelela Primary School was likely to be closed.

“Public health officials have been sent to help families avoid contracting waterborne diseases,” explained Ms Muluka.