Flood victims living through harrowing hell

Grace Alice, a 72-year-old grandmother, wipes tears off her cheeks as she recalls the terrifying ordeal that unfolded when floodwaters from the Lower Nyando River engulfed her homestead.

“I never imagined something like this would happen to me. I lost most of my valuables to the floods—everything I worked so hard for is gone. Now I have to start fresh purchases again,” Alice shares, her voice heavy with emotion and sickening nostalgia.

The devastating impact of the floods has left Alice and her family struggling to pick up the pieces, forced to find shelter and basic necessities as they navigate the aftermath.

She has sought refuge in Ahero town courtesy of a family friend as she agonises what next and how to restart life, adapt, and cope.

Despite her loss, Alice remains hopeful for a better future praying every day for good fortunes. Her mind is clear as she passionately expresses her desire for a long-term solution, the hope that the government will take action to prevent such disasters in future.

“We need dykes or dams in this area to protect us from the vagaries of floods,” she asserts.

It’s a view shared by many including Mary Atieno, another flood victim in Kapuothe village in the Nyalenda B area.

“Without proper infrastructure, we will continue to face these dangers in the rainy season,” she argues

These women are just a sample of the many in the Lower Nyando River Basin and Kapuothe village, where flooding remains a persistent threat. As the flood victims grapple for an uncertain future, they hope that their plea for better flood control measures will be heard and that no other family will have to endure the same hardship.

Last year, when the state built gabions on the river banks, they thought it would save the situation.  “We are tired with floods’ havoc each rainy season when River Nyando burst its banks. A permanent solution ought to be sought by the state,” says 35-year old Jane Akinyi.

The menace of floods has long been a recurring issue in various regions, and Kisumu, especially areas like Kano, continues to grapple with its devastating impacts.

Permanent solution

Homesteads in Kano have become marooned by the floods, leaving families in dire conditions, forced to navigate a situation where basic needs like food, shelter, and clean water are in short supply.

This ongoing crisis is compounded by the seasonal nature of the rains, which, year after year, result in the destruction of homes, livelihoods, and infrastructure.

Kisumu Central Member of Parliament, Joshua Oron, visited some of the affected areas and witnessed first-hand the devastation wrought by the floods.

The MP assessed the flood-affected areas of Kapuothe, Nyalenda B ward to identify vulnerable spots and push for a permanent solution to further prevent the overflow of the Nyamasaria River into Kapuothe village. Oron also distributed assorted foodstuffs to the struggling families.

Climate change

Nyando MP Jared Okello told the press that local authorities and the national government agencies must recognise the cyclical nature of this disaster and work on sustainable flood control measures that go beyond short-term relief.

“It is critical that the government and relevant stakeholders invest in flood preparedness and resilience programmes,” Okello observed as he appealed to humanitarian organisations and well-wishers to help where they can.

The current state of affairs in Kano in Nyando village and other flood-prone areas in Kisumu reflects a broader issue that requires urgent attention.  These floods are not just natural events but are often exacerbated by poor management of water bodies, deforestation, and insufficient planning to handle storm water run-off.

The heavy rains, which have continued to pound Kisumu, are a reminder of the broader climate change phenomenon that is increasingly causing unpredictable weather patterns and extreme rainfall events in many parts of the world, including Kenya.

Climate change expert, Linet Ombewa says addressing the root causes of the floods, such as poor drainage systems, inadequate land use policies, and climate change adaptation, is key to finding a lasting solution to the floods havoc.

“The government must prioritise flood control and infrastructure development to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of residents in Kisumu and other flood-prone regions,” Ombewa asserts.

Measures that could help counter flooding include early warning systems, floodplain zoning, community education on disaster preparedness and the establishment of flood response units.  The involvement of local communities is essential, as they possess valuable knowledge about the local terrain and flood-prone areas.

Kisumu County has legislated disaster preparedness policy seeking to come up with permanent solution to floods menace. Governor Anyang Nyong’o hopes the new policies help address flood challenges as they continue with other response mechanism such as dyking, dredging the river banks, and building gabions among others.