Thousands of residents have been displaced after heavy rains upstream of River Nyando caused severe flooding in downstream areas.
The rains caused an overflow at Ahero Bridge on the Kisumu-Nairobi highway, submerging homes, businesses, farmland and critical infrastructure. Many families were left stranded and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
In Ahero town, panic gripped residents as rising waters forced them to flee their homes and camp by the road with their belongings after their homes were engulfed by floodwaters.
Businesses also suffered devastating losses, while the Ahero Girls School was completely submerged after River Nyando burst its banks.
The flooding caused widespread disruption of activities with residents expressing fears that the situation could worsen as the rains continue.
Mark Ochieng said the flooding was the second in recent times and called on the national and county governments to find a lasting solution.
“Rice farmers who stored their produce at the busy Ahero market have lost their produce which was swept downstream,” said Mr Omondi.
Kakola Ombaka Sub Chief Neto Awich said at least 78 households have been displaced in the flood-prone Kakola Location.
Mr Awich said people had been leaving their homes since Friday night after River Nyando burst its banks.
By Saturday morning, 200 acres of land had been swallowed by the raging waters. The Sub Chief also said that 200 poultry had been swept downstream.
“The displaced individuals are currently seeking refuge at homesteads of their neighbours and relatives on higher ground,” said Mr Awich.
In Kisumu, City Manager Abala Wanga launched a comprehensive response to the perennial flooding that has affected Kapuothe and Alewra regions after River Nyamasaria burst its bank.
“The county disaster team is stationed at the site, offering essential supplies, including medicine, food and blankets. An appeal has also been issued for additional blankets and mattresses to support the displaced families,” he said.
Mr Wanga said the relocation will allow the county to carry out critical interventions such as opening up River Nyamasaria and improving the dykes.
“Our main challenge currently is that heavy machinery are not able to access some parts of the river channel, but we have mobilised 300 youth to manually desilt the river and clear debris using boats and canoes,” he said.
As a long-term measure, he said the county plans to secure alternative land in Mamboleo and Chiga where the displaced will be relocated.
This came as hundreds of families in Kapuothe village, Nyalenda, were dealing with the aftermath of devastating floods that forced them from their homes.
The heavy rains in the region have caused River Nyamasaria to overflow, sending muddy water into residential areas.
"We want a permanent solution," said Steve Omondi, a frustrated resident. "This happens every year, but the government only acts after the rains have started. They need to address the problem before the floods come again."
He also pointed out that the silt-filled outlet of River Nyamasaria was a major cause of the flooding, and called on the authorities to divert the river's waters into Lake Victoria.
The displaced families are crammed into the limited space at Nanga Primary School, with at least five families squeezed into a single classroom.
Mr Ernest Oba, the deputy head teacher, revealed that some of their pit latrines had been flooded, leaving only two functioning latrines for more than a hundred people.
"We allowed the families to stay here because they had nowhere else to go. But the conditions are hard. Some of them are already sick and hygiene is becoming a serious problem," he said.
Among the displaced is Emelda Adhiambo Ochieng, a mother of four, who described the hardships of life in the camp. "We are at risk of diseases like malaria and bilharzia," she complained.
Concerned that food was already a major challenge, she called on the government to act quickly to address the flooding problem and protect the community from future crises.
Non-governmental organisations have also felt the strain of the growing number of flood victims. The Compassionate Center for Families, an NGO that has been providing emergency shelter to flood victims in Kapuothe for the past two years, says it can no longer accommodate them.
"The numbers have increased significantly this year," said Sheila Akinyi Otieno, the centre's executive director. "We are now supporting them from the school camp by setting up a recovery room to treat illnesses and care for those who are unwell."
As the rains continue, the people of Kapuothe wait in the hope that their cries for help will finally be heard by those responsible for providing food, medicine and better sanitation at the school.
