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Learning has been paralysed in several schools within Nyanza region due to floods which have displaced thousands of people.

Reports also show that six people could have died in the past one week due to the heavy rains pounding the country.

Authorities reported the deaths in Uasin Gishu and Narok counties, with the victims including school children.

In Nyando, Kisumu County, many learners failed to report for the second term on Monday as a result of floods caused by heavy rains.

Many families in the lower Nyando river basin are camping in  schools on higher grounds.

Among the affected schools are Ombaka, Ogenya, Kandaria, Ugwe, Osep, Kibarwa and Odienya, Nyamasao and Magina primary schools. Others are Kanyagwal, Kandaria and Odienya secondary schools.

Ombaka Primary School classrooms were sheltering about 200 families displaced by floods.

In Kisumu, the government and the Kenya Red Cross Society have set up evacuation centres at Nduru, Kalal and Ombaka centres in Kabonyo Kanyagwal Ward.

In Homa Bay County, several families are camping at Osodo Primary School in Karachuonyo Constituency after River Sondu Miriu broke its banks and swept through to neighbouring villages.

Flood victims camping in schools are are appealing for support to get alternative shelters following the reopening of learning institutions.

Many families have also lost property to the floods.

Kennedy Omollo, a resident, said he had lost all his household property to floods following heavy rains.

Clogged canals

Jane Atieno and Maren Matete share the same predicament.

“We are used to the seasonal flooding, but the effects this time round are enormous,’’ said Atieno.

Matete rued the effects of floods which, she said, displace people every rainy season after prolonged drought.

Many families living in camps are dependent on relief food from donors, well-wishers and the government.

Kabonyo Kanyagwal youth leader Charles Osako yesterday asked the county government to open clogged rice canals in the rice plantations that have been affected, with most crops swamped downstream.

“The County government should bring tractors here to open the clogged drainages and water pools and divert the water to Lake Victoria as part of a temporary solution to ease flow of water,’’ said Osako

He also called for the building of more dykes on the banks of River Nyando to prevent floods.

Osako said many families in the affected areas were exposed to hunger, malnutrition and diseases such as malaria and water-borne diseases.

Acting Kisumu County Commissioner Hassan Alison Hassan has been coordinating the national government response.

He urged humanitarian organisations to complement the government’s efforts by donating relief food to assist the vulnerable population.

It is estimated that the floods have affected more than 4,000 households in Kisumu County.

The heavy rains have also destroyed rice crop worth Sh800 million at Ahero and West Kano irrigation schemes.

Western Kenya Schemes senior Manager Joel Tanui explained that the rice farms were submerged after River Nyando burst its banks.

Tanui disclosed that the floods have also damaged the National Irrigation Board infrastructure at the two schemes – West and East Kano plains.

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has appealed for aid as heavy rains continued to wreak havoc in the lower Nyando River basin. The rains have left a trail of destruction of crop farms.

“We want to appeal to friends, well-wishers and the donor community to render support to allow us assist those affected or driven out of their homes by the flash floods,’’ said Nyong’o.

But as a long-term solution, the government is set to revive construction of the Sh25 billion Koru-Soin Dam that stalled seven years ago.

The project is to help curb recurring floods in Kisumu County, and will also serve Kisumu, parts of Kericho and Nandi Counties, as well.

At the weekend, ICT CS Eliud Owalo disclosed that the state was keen on fast-tracking the construction of the dam to avert recurring floods.

“We want to assure the vulnerable families that the state is keen to build the dam to store excess water, thereby prevent floods,’’ said Owalo.

Dam to be completed

He was speaking during a tour of homes affected by floods in the lower Nyando River Basin.

The dam will be built on the slopes of Got Alila Hill in Muhoroni Kisumu County, and the slopes of Koitatui Hill in Soin Kericho County.

It will store up to 93.7 million cubic metres and supply about 72,000 cubic meters of water daily for domestic and formal use.

The dam is scheduled to be completed in 2028.

In Uasin Gishu, the firefighting department on Tuesday retrieved a body at River Sosiani bringing to three, the number of  people killed during heavy rains in the North Rift in the past one week.

In Narok, police reported deaths of  people who drowned as they crossed flooded rivers in Narok South and West Sub-Counties.

—Additional reporting by Wycliff Kipsang and George Sayagie