More than 134 families have been displaced by floods following heavy rains that pounded Karachuonyo and Suba South constituencies.
In Karachuonyo, floods displaced more than 100 families in the Central Karachuonyo ward.
Kogembo assistant chief Hezekiah Owino said the affected families are from three villages - Kosano, Kamwaya and Nyawana.
“It rained uphill before water moved down downstream. River Kibuon burst its banks leading to flooding,” Owino said.
Some animals were killed and crops destroyed by the floods.
The flooding also led to the collapse of 20 mud houses.
Most victims whose crops were damaged depend on agricultural produce as a source of income.
“Some household items were swept away by floods,” he said.
The government had pledged to tackle floods in Karachuonyo by dredging River Miriu, Kibuon and Awach.
Owino said unless the sediments are removed from the rivers to allow free flow of water, families will continue to suffer.
“Some people just left camp three months ago to move back to their homes. They are yet again going back to the camp,” he said.
Rose Odhiambo from Simbi Kogembo village said some of their children’s books were destroyed.
“The floods have caused a major economic setback to us. It caught us by surprise when we were asleep,” she said.
In Suba South, floods affected more than 23 families in Nyandiwa.
Victims spent the night in the cold after River Wangapala, which is seasonal, burst its banks.
Gwassi West chief Tobias Opiyo said the flooding caused destruction of property including roads which were under construction.
“The road from Nyandiwa to Kitawa was cut and nobody could move,” Opiyo said.
The administrator added that communication was cut off.
The affected families are in need of medical and humanitarian assistance.
“We expect more rain and the level of destruction will definitely increase,” Opiyo said.
“Families need to move to safer grounds,” the chief advised.
Karachuonyo MP Adipo Okuome
said he is pushing relevant agencies
to intervene on the matter.
