More than 80 families have been displaced from their homes by the raging floods in three locations in Karachuonyo constituency, Homa Bay County.
The families from Kamser Nyakongo, Central Karachuonyo and Kogweno Oriang were forced to look for alternative places to stay after their houses became inhabitable.
The flooding occurred after river Ondhedhe burst its banks.
Most of the household items in the homes were destroyed after the residents’ houses were marooned by the floods.
Some of them are camping in Yala primary school and Kogembo dispensary.
The floods have been caused by heavy rains which have been pounding most parts of the country.
Some families complained that they are likely to face starvation after the rains swept and destroyed their crops on the farms.
Some of the affected people Pamela Otieno and Cloy Achieng, said hunger is imminent because the floods did not only interfere with their cooking arrangements but also disappeared with their household items like utensils.
“Many of us have lost food items and are unable to cook because of the floods. Life is very unbearable here,” Otieno said.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, the families are calling on both the county government and the National government to provide them with long-term solutions 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 government officials should intervene in this matter once and for all,” Achieng said.
The residents appealed for humanitarian aid to help them mitigate the adversity of the floods.
“We are calling on well-wishers and government agencies to assist us with humanitarian aid to reduce the adverse impact of the situation,” Achieng said.
Due to the situation, environmental expert Clifford Omondi wants residents to remain alert so they do not seriously get affected.
Areas prone to flooding include Kobuya, Kobala, and Chuowe in Karachuonyo constituency.
Wahambla and Nyagidha areas in Homa Bay Town constituency have been mapped out as areas likely to get affected.
Others include Lower Kuja and Kabuoch areas in Ndhiwa. In Suba North, there are Lambwe, Gembe and some parts of Mbita town.
Omondi argued that the prolonged rains will cause a human health crisis and called on the county health department to get ready and respond to any emergency.
“Climate change is real and we must prepare to respond appropriately to its impacts. Let everyone remain alert about the ongoing rains so they don’t lead to a health impact crisis,” Omondi said.
He urged residents to maintain personal hygiene to keep diseases like cholera at bay.
“We must be ready to address mental health which comes due to stress and destruction of personal properties,” he said.
Homa Bay Kenya Red Cross Coordinator in Homa Bay Samuel Omondi said they were undertaking assessment on the flood situation in the county.
