A home in Nyando Constituency surrounded by floods// Photo Courtesy.
Fear is intensifying among residents of Ahero town and its surrounding, in Kisumu, following severe flooding after River Nyando overflowed its banks on Friday.
The flooding was caused by heavy overnight rains that have displaced hundreds of families in the area. Panadol, Kamidumbi, Oketha, Kochola, Kondhiro and Tura are the areas that have been mostly affected by the rains.
According to Nyando Deputy County Commissioner Elijah Maranga, approximately 350 households have been impacted so far, with the number expected to increase.
Speaking to the press, Kisumu County Red Cross Coordinator George Opidi mentioned that families who have been displaced are currently staying by the roadside, as they wait for humanitarian aid to arrive.
He noted that the Kenya Red Cross team, along with other authorities, is quickly assessing the situation to plan relief efforts.
The Deputy County Commissioner, reassured locals that Ahero Bridge on the Kisumu-Nairobi highway is open and traffic is moving smoothly for both vehicles and pedestrians. However, he warned that if the rain continues, the bridge could overflow.
“The road is currently passable, but we fear that with continued rains, there will be an overflow on the Ahero bridge affecting transport. We urge residents to remain vigilant and relocate to higher grounds to avoid loss of lives and property destruction,” Maranga said.
The government has reported that around 200 lives have been lost, over 40,000 individuals have been displaced, and more than 200,000 people have been affected across the country due to the ongoing long rains season that started in March.
Authorities are urging residents in flood-prone areas to pay close attention to warnings and prioritize their safety as heavy rains continue to present a serious risk.
In collaboration with Kisumu County officials and humanitarian agencies like the Kenya Red Cross, the National Government is carefully monitoring the situation to coordinate effective relief efforts.
Friday this week, Kenya Meteorological Department announced that some parts of the country to experience heavy rainfall. The department’s Director General, Mr. David Gikungu confirmed that rainfall was expected to continue over the Highlands East region, the West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the South-eastern lowlands, the Coastal region, North-western and North-eastern Kenya.
