Harrowing tales of Lunga-Lunga residents caught flat-footed by floods

Residents of Mwarongo-Kiwegu C in Lunga-Lunga, Kwale county woke up Friday morning to floods after River Umba and Mai dam broke their banks.

The ravaging floods destroyed homes and left the residents devastated. Last Thursday, the residents went to bed like they did every other day with hopes of waking up to a shiny bright morning.

It was a peaceful and cold night as moderate rains continued to pound and frogs were heard croaking, a sign that all was well.

However, deep in the night, the rains increased causing River Umba and Mai dam to break their banks.

At around midnight, the locals who were in a deep slumber were woken up by water in their houses.

Within no time utensils, clothing and bedding were floating causing panic and devastation.

The mud and makuti-thatched houses that could not withstand the floods, collapsed forcing residents to flee.

Women, children and the elderly were the most affected as they had to be carried on other people's backs and shoulders to wade through the waist-high water.

The floods also washed away crops and some livestock such as hens and goats.

Although the area is among the many places known to be affected by floods, this year's floods caused a lot of pain and havoc to Kwale residents.

More than three people lost their lives and 790 families were affected. Approximately 6,000 people were affected by the floods in Kwale.

Miriam Nyanje is among the internally displaced persons, who have pitched camp at Kiwegu Primary School.

She and more than 100 families from Kiwegu village are appealing for humanitarian assistance.

Nyanje is yet to recover from Thursday's shock.

"I am totally shocked, it will take years for us to recover from the effects of these floods," she said.

Nyanje, her two-year-old baby and 13 younger siblings had to run for safety as floods wreaked havoc in their homes.

"I can't believe we lost everything just like that. Life is so unpredictable," she said while battling tears.

Nyanje said all the food they had stored to take them to next year was all swept away, reducing them to beggars.

Currently, their lives depend on the goodwill of the government, well-wishers and good Samaritans.

She said she now only has two dresses, the one she was wearing during the floods and the only one that she saved.

Saum Marinda, a mother of six was also suffered the same fate as Nyanje.

She said she did not expect the rains to be that heavy.

All Marinda remembers is chaos, cries and losses as floods hit them.

"I thought it was the end of the world, water had spread everywhere. The damage made was intense," she said.

Marinda said she lost her house and had to escape with the children, before it became catastrophic. She did not manage to save any property.

The mother of six said she saw several houses being submerged with residents still inside. No lives were however lost as community members rushed to rescue them.

She said the flood disaster signals an impending hunger since farmers lost all their crops.

At the camp, both children and adults are exposed to cold and mosquitoes, signaling an outbreak of diseases.

Marinda said the county government in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross and area leaders brought relief items such as blankets, jikos, utensils and food, which were not enough.

"We are forced to sleep on mats and rags and share a few lessos to protect ourselves from the mosquitoes and cold," she said.

Marinda said they need more help from the government to start afresh.

"We cannot stay here forever because this is a school. We urge the government to help us rebuild our homes or give us land somewhere else far from the flood prone areas," she said.

Luvuno Jawa said she already misses her home, which was swept away by the floods.

She said she could not save anything from the water that was rising very quickly.

Jawa said women and children at the camp are suffering due to lack of basic needs such as sanitary towels and warm sleeping spaces.

Meanwhile, Ali Munga has refused to relocate despite losing his house and property.

He is currently sleeping in a traditional maize granary that survived the floods.

On Sunday two Cabinet Secretaries, Peninah Malonza (ASAL) and Salim Mvurya (Blue Economy) said all flood victims will be given the required assistance.

The two, who visited the Kwale Flood victims said food and other relief items such as food, bedding, clothes, sanitary towels and mosquito nets were on the way.

Malonza said the government will also help flood victims rebuild their homes by providing them with iron sheets.

Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani appealed to the locals whose houses were constructed in lowland areas to relocate to higher grounds.