Floods
Over 1,700 families in Karachuonyo constituency, Homa Bay county have so far been displaced by floods. Area County Commissioner Moses Lilan said majority of the displaced families were inhabitants of Simbi, Kobuya, Chuowe and Osodo villages.
Lilan said inhabitants of areas adjacent to river Kuja and river Oyombe in Ndhiwa constituency as well as Remba Island in Suba North constituency have also been affected by floods adding about 540 families were displaced from the areas last week.
Lilan said most of the places were flooded after rivers burst their banks and flooded homes. “Floods experienced in Remba Island are a result of backflow of Lake Victoria. In the other areas rivers have burst their banks,” Lilan said.
He said displaced families in Karachuonyo were temporarily accommodated at Kobuya and Osodo Primary Schools as well as Simbi dispensary.
Briefing the press in his office today, Lilan said that the disaster management committee which is composed of officials from both the county and national government has moved in to help the affected families.
The Kenya Red Cross, he added has also swiftly established tents in camps. Kenya Meteorological department had earlier issued an alert that more rains was expected in the Nyanza counties. Lilan said they were sensitizing members of the public to be vigilant on the dangers of the heavy rains and move away from flood prone areas.
“The disaster management committee members are putting in place measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the floods including preventing losses and deaths,” he said. Lilan said families in flood prone areas should be careful as they go about their daily activities noting: “National government administration officials are mobilizing residents to move out of areas that have been marked as floods prone areas.”
Kenya Power electricity poles have also been brought down by the floods in Chuowe area with commissioner Lilan saying the parastatal has been instructed to move with speed and repair the damaged lines. He said anyone passing next to a collapsed power line should be careful.
“We don’t want to witness any electrocution in the areas that power lines have been damaged. Let people also not shelter under trees to avoid injuries and deaths,” he added. Floods victims Pamela Otieno and Cloy Achieng said that their crops and household items like utensils were swept away by the floods.
“Many of us have lost food items and are unable to cook because of the floods. Life is very miserable.” Otieno said. The victims called on both the county and national government to provide them with long term solution to the problem.
Achieng said the problem has persisted in the area every rainy season.
“Flooding problems are not new in this area. Elected leaders and the government officials should intervene in this matter once and for all,” Achieng said.