Teckler Tabu is among the hundreds of people in Karachuonyo constituency who are appealing for help after floods displaced them from their homes.
At least 720 people in Kobuya location in Wang Chieng ward have been camping at Kobuya Primary School for the past week after they were displaced by floods.
Their houses are marooned as rains continue to pound the region.
The floods have caused massive loss of property after the River Miriu burst its banks.
Some of the destruction include collapse of houses and damage to roads and crops. Water has also covered grass and other vegetation, denying livestock pasture.
“We’re undergoing a lot of challenges from lack of food to exposure to diseases. Elected leaders have not come to our aid,” Tabu, 77, said.
The displaced persons said they have not received any help since they started camping at the school.
Previously, well-wishers would come with food donations, drugs, blankets, mosquito nets and other supplies.
Tabu said there is need to get permanent solutions to the perennial flooding.
“Flooding in Kobuya is perennial and we appeal to elected leaders to address it once and for all. We’re tired of being displaced from our homes every rainy season,” she said.
When displaced, families carry with them sleeping mats and a few clothes as they wait for the water to recede.
Women with small children have the hardest time.
At Kobuya camp, only a few mothers have mosquito nets.
“Many of the people in the camp are vulnerable. They are minors, women and elderly persons like me, hence, they urgently need help,” Tabu said.
More than 400 families have been displaced by floods in Kobuya location.
In 2019 the residents petitioned the government to address the problem.
In the petition, they asked government agencies to build dykes along River Miriu to control the floods.
Through Fredrick Gaya, the community took the petition to the National Assembly and the Committee on Environment visited to assess the situation.
“They recommended construction of dykes but the government is yet to implement it,” Gaya said.
The community members also wanted trees to be planted along the river to mitigate flooding.
“We want the government to start an irrigation scheme and use water from the river to grow crops. All these are meant to control water movement,” Gaya said.
Kobuya is in a low-lying area and flooding is a constant threat.
When it rains, water stagnates, slowly eroding walls and causing buildings to collapse.
When it rains upstream, the River Miriu bursts its banks and water floods homes.
The most affected villages are Konyi, Kalal, Lower Kanyo, Kasirawa, Konyango, Kawuor Agindo and Komenya.
Kobuya chief Damianus Osano appealed for humanitarian aid for the flood victims, saying they have lost valuables.
“There is need for urgent intervention and assist of the families with humanitarian aid,” Osano said.
The administrator said they urgently need clean water.
On Thursday, Kobuya primary head teacher Benter Adoyo said they are worried that classes may not resume immediately in second term because most classrooms are occupied by displaced persons.
She urged the government to help them get an alternative place to put up.
“Most of our facilities, including toilets, are used by the displaced people,” Adoyo said.
Edited by Josephine M. Mayuya