More than 130 households in Homa Bay county have been displaced from their homes following heavy rains.

The affected families, largely from Rachuonyo North and Suba sub-counties, were left homeless after their homes were flooded following a heavy downpour on Wednesday night.

In Rachuonyo North, floods displaced more than 110 households in Central Karachuonyo ward.
The affected families are from three villages – Kosano, Kamwaya and Nyawana – said Kogembo Assistant Chief Hezekiah Owino

He said at least 20 homes had collapsed.
“Local rivers burst their banks, with water rushing downstream and flooding many homes,” Owino said.
The floods caused considerable damage in the affected villages, he added.

“Animals were killed and crops destroyed. Most people who lost their agricultural produce depend on them as a source of income,” he said.

Residents said some of their household items were damaged or lost.

Children also lost their books, said Simbi Kogembo resident Rose Okeyo.
“The floods have caused a major economic setback for us. It caught us by surprise when we were asleep,” she said.

Humanitarian aid
In Suba sub-county, floods affected more than 23 families in Nyandiwa.

Some people from the area spent the night in the cold after the seasonal River Wangapala burst its banks.
Roads under construction were also damaged, said Gwassi West Chief Tobias Opiyo.

“The road from Nyandiwa to Kitawa was damaged and no one could move,” he said.
The affected families need medical and humanitarian assistance, he added.

“We expect more rain and the level of destruction will definitely increase. Families need to move to safer ground,” Opiyo said.

Some of the affected families in Rachuonyo North had recently moved back to their homes after spending weeks at a camp.

The government has previously pledged to tackle floods in Rachuonyo North by dredging the rivers Miriu, Kibuon and Awach.

Unless the sediments are removed from the rivers to allow free flow of water, families will continue to suffer, Owino said.

“Some people just left the camp three months ago to move back to their homes. They are yet again going back to the camp,” he said.

In Kisumu county, several homes were submerged in water from heavy rains.
Roads were also rendered impassable and crops swept away.