Urgent humanitarian assistance is needed for flood-affected families in Suba South, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has said.
Wanga and nominated MP John Mbadi said the national government is giving little attention to people affected by floods in Homa Bay as compared to other areas in the country.
Homa Bay is among the counties that have been hit hard by the floods menace, with more than 2,000 families displaced from their homes.
Affected constituencies include Karachuonyo, Rangwe, Suba North and Ndhiwa. Suba South is the latest constituency that witnessed flash floods and mudslides in the county.
Four people, including three children from the same family, lost their lives to the floods on Sunday afternoon.
Preliminary assessment results indicate more than 900 people were affected, with about 200 houses destroyed. Crops, livestock and personal belongings were also swept into Lake Victoria.
The national government, through area deputy subcounty commissioner Sebastian Okiring, gave out 150 mattresses and 20 bales of blankets to the affected persons on Monday.
The victims were promised faster response and more help, including food and non-food items.
On Wednesday, Governor Wanga said the state is not doing enough to help the affected people in Homa Bay.
She wants the national government to be inclusive while providing humanitarian aid.
“Homa Bay has people who lost their lives and livelihoods to floods. The same attention they give to flood victims in other counties should be seen in Homa Bay, especially Suba South, where people have died,” Wanga said.
The governor spoke when they visited the affected villages such as Got Kombuto, Kisaku, Nyabomo and Sindo town centre.
Wanga said they are struggling with the little resources they have to support the affected people.
They have given 700 bags of rice, 400 bags of beans and wheat flour to the flood victims.
Homa Bay government is going to waive postmortem fees, hospital bills and meet all expenses to the flood-affected families in Suba South.
Wanga said they have bought building materials to construct a new house for the family of Sylvan Otieno, who lost three children.
“Reforestation of Gwassi Hills is urgently needed to address the erosion, which has occurred. We are addressing the drainage system in Sindo town and urging residents to stay in safer places,” she said.
Mbadi urged the national government to quickly release emergency funds to the counties for addressing disasters such as floods.
He claimed there are a lot of bureaucracies when seeking urgent assistance from the national government.
“There is no need of keeping emergency funds with the state if the people who suffer and should be helped are in counties. Release the funds quickly for our people to get helped,” Mbadi said.
The former Suba South MP urged the government to construct a dam along River Deyi to slow down the movement of water from Gwassi Hills.
In his tour, Mbadi bought land for resettlement of Otieno’s family at a cost of Sh100,000. He gave Sh10,000 each to 15 people whose houses were demolished by floods and Sh3,000 each to more than 25 people.
He called for unity among the elected leaders and residents as they provide intervention to the affected persons.
“Let’s not mix this issue with politics because our people are seriously in need of help. Politics will drag us behind and make us lose focus,” he added.