Farmers in Tana Delta subcounty are facing losses after River Tana changed its course in the Madhobe area.
Osman Babu, who plants onions, watermelons and green grams, said more than 7,000 people depend on the river for their livelihood. He urged Tana leaders to intervene.
Farmers have urged the county government to revert the river to its original course as more than 3,000 acres under crop production are at risk of wilting.
Edward Wambua, a farmer in Dalu village, said the river started charting a new course in July and became worse in August. Their efforts to revert the river to its original course have not borne fruit due to lack of machinery, he said.
“We are trying to divert the river for water to flow down because we have gone without water for two weeks now. The water helps us in farming and we have crops in the field. I have seven acres-six acres of tomatoes and one acre of watermelons,” Wambua said.
“At the moment, there is no water and the crops are wilting. We need help for the water to flow back to our farms.”
Rev Amor Charo, from Tarasaa village, said he has been a watermelon farmer for five years and he depends on this river to grow the crop.
“But as we speak, it has become a challenge because the river has dried up as I have eight acres in Gumba area. Getting water is now a challenge," he said.
Rev Charo said the change in course of the river has affected schools and hospitals in Ngao, Dalu, Tarasaa, Golbante and Chara villages. Tarasaa has one borehole which is serving the whole village.
“There is one well in Tarasaa that serves many people whose mothers have to go out at dawn to fetch water,” he said.
Livestock farmers are also suffering as they are forced to trek for kilometres in search of water.
Edited by A.N