1,731 families displaced by floods as rains wreak havoc in Homa Bay

At least 1,731 families in Karachuonyo in Homa Bay county have been displaced by floods.

This is just one week after the area started experiencing heavy rains.

Those worst affected include residents of Simbi, Kobuya, Chuowe and Osodo who have been displaced from their  homes.

Displaced families in Karachuonyo are temporary residing at Kobuya Primary, Osodo Primary and Simbi dispensary.

Homa Bay county commissioner Moses Lilan said residents living around rivers Kuja and Oyombe in Ndhiwa constituency and Remba Island in Suba North constituency had also been affected by floods.

Addressing journalists at his office on Wednesday, 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.

Following the situation, disaster management committee is looking for ways to help the families affected by floods.

The committee is composed of officials from both the national and county governments.

Kenya Red Cross, which is also part of the committee, has already set up  tents in camps to shelter the affected families.

Kenya Meteorological Department had already issued a notice that more rains are expected in the Nyanza counties.

Lilan said they are continuing sensitising the public to be aware of the dangers of staying in flood prone affected areas.

The disaster department committee members are undertaking the programme to avoid injuries and deaths.

Lilan said families in flood prone areas should be careful as they conduct their daily activities.

“National government administrators are advising residents accordingly to avoid injuries or cause of death. The best thing is to move out of areas that have been marked as floods prone areas,” he said.

Kenya Power is reported to have lost electricity poles in raging floods in Chuowe.

Lilan said the agency has been instructed to move with speed and repair lines 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.

Some of the affected people Pamela Otieno and Cloy Achieng, said hunger is imminent because the floods also destroyed their crops and household items like utensils.

“Many of us have lost food items and are unable to cook because the floods have interfered with them. Life is very unbearable,” Otieno said.

The families are calling on both the county government and the 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.