300 families displaced as rain wreaks havoc

An elderly man walks with a kid in flood waters at Kabogo Village in Rabuor, Kisumu County following the heavy rains that hit the area on the night of April 26, 2015. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI |

What you need to know:

  • The families have moved to higher grounds after flood water destroyed their houses and hundreds of acres of farms under crop.
  • Area assistant chief Amos Onyango said the floods had been caused by poor drainage. “We are tired of moving people out of their homes every rainy season, all we need from the government is a lasting solution,” he said.
  • Seven people, among them two children, drowned recently as they attempted to cross swollen rivers Chak, Awach Tende and Maugo.

More than 300 families have been displaced by floods in Kisumu and Homa Bay counties following heavy rains in the region.

The families have moved to higher grounds after flood water destroyed their houses and hundreds of acres of farms under crop.

In Kisumu, the displaced, who are from Kabogo village in Nyando constituency, sought refuge in nearby primary schools.

Mr David Owinyo, a father of eight, said they moved out after their homes were flooded Monday morning.

He said this was the second time they were compelled to abandon their homes in the past one month.

“I have lost at least 10 cows because of the floods. We do not have food to eat, we have been left with nothing,” he said.

Area disaster management chairman said the floods had also exposed most families to water-borne diseases and malaria.

He said the area was prone to floods as the water flowing to a local irrigation scheme lacks an outlet. “This is the third time we are experiencing such problems this year. We therefore appeal for food, drugs and blankets from the government,” he said.

Area assistant chief Amos Onyango said the floods had been caused by poor drainage. “We are tired of moving people out of their homes every rainy season, all we need from the government is a lasting solution,” he said.

In Homa Bay, the worst affected areas are East Kagan, West and East Kochia.
Kenya Red Cross coordinator for Homa Bay and Migori John Roche, who accompanied the County Disaster Committee team on a surveillance of the affected areas, said: “Several maize, sorghum and horticultural farms were affected by the floods.”

BURST THEIR BANKS

Rivers Maugo, Awach Tende, Rangwe and Riana are among those that burst their banks.
There are fears the heavy rains might damage roads that were recently rehabilitated.

Seven people, among them two children, drowned recently as they attempted to cross swollen rivers Chak, Awach Tende and Maugo.
In Migori, hundreds have been displaced as heavy rains continue to pound the region.

The victims, mainly from Kanyasa, Lwanda and North Kadem in Nyatike, are now living with friends and relatives.

Their houses were swept downstream after local rivers burst their banks. “The number of homeless families may increase if these rains continue,” said Mr Apollo Ogutu, the sub-county administrator.

The burial of a five-year-old girl, who died of pneumonia, had to go on though the family’s homestead was under water in Rabuor, Kisumu County on April 27, 2015. TONNY OMONDI |

Most of the local roads have been rendered impassable by the rains.
Mr Ogutu appealed for food, blankets, medicine and tauplin tents to help the displaced.

Residents of Nyora, Kabuto and Sere villages also fear they could be displaced due to the rising water levels of rivers Migori and Kuja.

Reported by Maurice Kaluoch, Silas Apollo and Elisha Otieno