Over 540 families displaced as floods pound Karachuonyo

More than 500 families in four villages in the Karachuonyo constituency have been displaced by floods as rains continue to pound the area.

Already some homes in Konyango, Komenya, Kasirawa and Kawuor Agindo villages in Wang' Chieng location have been surrounded by water.

 The floods have been caused by overflow of water from River Miriu.

Margaret Olwero, who is among the affected people, said her foodstuffs like maize, sorghum and beans in the store were destroyed.

"I have remained without food to eat because of the flood's destruction. Life situation has become difficult in the place," Olwero said.

In the affected villages, homes are made of mud and some have started developing weak walls.

Hellen Anyango from Kasirawa said one side of her house collapsed on Tuesday night as she was asleep.

She appealed to well-wishers to come to her rescue saying her children have nowhere to sleep. There are reports of people encountering the animal near their homes.

"Some hippotamus from Lake Victoria are also invading homes. Children are susceptible to diseases due to the situation and there is a need for urgent intervention," Anyango said.

The residents of the affected areas are now calling for a permanent solution to the perennial flooding problem.

Kobala sub-location assistant chief George Oburu said there are signs that more homes will be affected as the rain continues.

He urged families whose homes had already been marooned with floods to leave for safer areas.

“The government has already issued a notice to residents who live in flood-prone areas to move to safer grounds. We're calling residents to comply with advice ” Oburu said.

Homa Bay County Commissioner Moses Lilan and the County Beach Management Chairman Edward Oremo have urged residents to put measures in place to avoid the adverse impact of the rains.

Lilan said the Kenya Meteorological Department report indicates that there will be more rainfall between March and May this year.

“The met department has given a weather forecast report that there we will experience above normal rainfall. It is important for every one of us to be aware of the expected weather conditions and take precautionary measures,” Lilan said.

The administrator said many parts of Homa Bay County are vulnerable to adverse impacts of heavy rains.

“Homa Bay is among the counties listed that will experience flash floods. More rains are associated with the destruction of farmland and property,” he said.

This calls for arrangements by local communities which live in areas prone to floods to move to higher grounds.

“Areas such as Kobala, Osodo and Kobuya in Karachuonyo, Kochia in Rangwe and Homa Bay town, Ndhiwa and Suba are flood-prone areas. Let residents in such areas move to higher grounds,” the administrator added.

Oremo told fishermen to put measures in place to prevent accidents in Lake Victoria during the rains.

He argued that the rains will be accompanied by storms which make boats capsize, a situation that had led to injuries and deaths in the past.

He said the measures include putting in place rescue boats and avoiding going to the lake to fish during bad weather.

“All beach management unit officials are instructed to put rescue boats in place. Nobody should go to fish during erratic weather conditions,” Oremo said.