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More than 500 people have been displaced from their homes in Homa Bay County as the heavy rains continue to wreak havoc across parts of the country.

The residents from Kamser Nyakongo, Central Karachuonyo and Kogweno Oriang’ locations in Rachuonyo North sub-county have been left homeless after their houses were marooned by water following heavy downpour.

The heavy rains which have been pounding the area since last weekend have occasioned flooding.
The rains have also left a trail of destruction in farms.

A number of household items have been destroyed after several houses were flooded. The submerged houses have been rendered inhabitable forcing the owners to camp in various evacuation centres in the sub-county, including Yala primary school and Kogembo dispensary.

The victims have called on the county and the National governments to provide a long-term solution to the flood menace.

Nelly Achieng, one of the victims, said the problem has persisted in the area every rainy season and hence there was need for a permanent solution. “We call on our elected leaders and the government agencies to intervene in solving this matter. The floods are a seasonal problem in this area,” she said.

Further, they appealed for humanitarian aid to help them mitigate the flood effects.
“We appeal to well-wishers and government agencies to come to our help with humanitarian aid to reduce the adverse impact of the situation,” Achieng added.

Homa Bay county Kenya Red Cross Co-ordinator Samuel Omondi said they were undertaking assessment on the flood situation in the county.

In Migori county, the heavy rains left a trail of destruction. Yesterday, the Migori department of Water recorded massive losses resulting from burst pipes and sewer lines.

Migori Water and Sanitation Company (MIWASCO) officials reported that most of their pipes were broken down.

According to Energy, Water and Sanitation member of the County Executive committee, Chris Rusana, they were working hard to repair and replace the damaged pipes on the affected water supply chains.
Most of the damaged pipes were used for moving water to Miwasco treatment plant.

In Garissa county, the rains have cut off the transport system in the Ijara sub-county, affecting the supply of vital goods from other regions to Masalani town. The heavy deluge that has been experienced for the past three days has cut off the supply of electricity to the area, especially in Masalani town.

Residents have called on neighbouring Tana River County Governor Dhadho Godana and his Garissa counterparts Nadhif Jama to come to their aid and help repair dilapidated bridges that have been destroyed by the downpour making residents of the two counties to stop travelling from one county to the other.

According to the Masalani community chairman Abdullahi Abdi, former Ijara County Council chairman Mohamed Gure and vegetable vendors Ubah Yasin, and Ruth Kimani, there is need to allocate funds for the construction of the 18km road linking Masalani and Tana River.

Area elders said most travellers use the route from Mombasa-Malindi-garden and Nairobi through Garissa, Bura, and Hola for transport and business.

Residents of Ijara through the spokesman of Masalani watchdog CBO chairman Abdullahi Abdi called on both the national and county governments to allocate funds to mitigate the environmental destruction caused by El Nino induced rains.

They expressed concerns that the situation could be aggravated if proper mitigation measures are not put in place.

Abdi said the road towards Hola is cut off as vehicles plying Garissa-Hola road and those from Mombasa, Malindi, Garsen road are stranded at Boji in Tana river County.

Ijara, Hulugho and Bothai sub counties are most affected and food is not reaching the area due to poor road network.

Kenya Meteorological Department did not include Ijara constituency as a hotspot area the area which will be affected by heavy downpour suspected to be El Nino induced rain.

Ijara Deputy County Commissioner Wachira Chamtpon, his Hulugho counterpart David Luka and Bothai sub County Assistant County Commissioner Chana Marka said the road is impassable as rain continues to pound the region.

Meanwhile, residents of Muthwani ward in Mavoko Sub-county have called on county government to repair roads damaged by heavy rains that have been pounding the area for the past three days.
The call came as some local secondary school heads complained that students were spending more hours stranded on the roads.

The residents have accused area leaders of not addressing the problem saying that across a number of roads area were in poor condition, which they said were graded using black cotton soil. “We are asking the county administration to take action and have the roads repaired. We also want them to deliver on the promises they made before we voted them into office,” the residents said yesterday in a statement read by Peter Muli.
– Additional reporting by Kepher Otieno