More than 100 Marigat residents are appealing for urgent humanitarian aid after freak flash floods and powerful winds left them homeless.
The deluge and hailstorm for just two hours on Saturday evening wreaked havoc, blowing roofs off houses, downing trees and power lines and flattening crops.
Elderly residents, including those in their 70s, said they had never seen so much rain in such a short time. Some called it an omen of events good or bad.
They need tents, bedding, mosquito needs, foodstuffs, utensils and clean water, among other essentials.
"I am putting up in a friend's house with my family after strong winds blew off my roof and floods washed away everything,” Laban Chepkwony said on Monday.
“People assisted me evacuate my children from the flooded house. I thank God that none of my family members got injured," he told the Star.
He cannot find his four goats and some chickens. His television, solar battery and radios were soaked and damaged.
We assure our people that going forward, we and humanitarian agencies will build a flood-resilience programme
Chepkwony urged the government and well-wishers to urgently assist them.
Salina Yator said her mabati rented house in Budalang'i estate was blown away.
“I was forced to put up in a worn-out makeshift tent with my children” Yator said, adding the tomatoes she was selling in the market were also swept away.
Damaged estates include Yatoi, Kamakonge, Kivumbini, Budalang'i and Marigat-in.
On Monday, the Kenya Red Cross Baringo coordinator Caleb Kibet said they were carrying out a rapid assessment to determine damage.
“So far, we can see the victims urgently required non food stuffs, such as shelter tents, bedding and mosquito nets."
Kibet said the Red Cross would distribute some items "but more is needed from other partners, such as the government, to construct houses for the victims.
Deputy Governor Charles Kipngok, who is the county disaster management chairman, toured the area to assess the damage but did not pledge immediate assistance.
Kipngok was accompanied by Marigat MCA Nixon Lemlem, who was representing Governor Benjamin Cheboi.
Cheboi wrote on his Facebook page that the county is committed to improving infrastructure, unblocking drainage and building gabions to reduce the impact of future flooding.
“We assure our people that going forward, we will partner with humanitarian agencies such as World Vision, the Red Cross and other NGOs to build a flood-resilience programme," he said.
It will involve tree-planting and other soil conservation techniques.
Cheboi said the programme will protect the sun-baked ground that hardly absorbs running water, leading to erosion.
“My administration shall invest more in preparedness and ensure there is a reliable network to access needs and offer timely assistance,” he said.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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