This archive report was first published on 1 October 2021.
Published on October 1, 2021, in The Standard, a heartwarming story of Alfred Oduaro, a 65-year-old man from Bunyala village in Bundang'i, Busia County, who has been hosting flood victims on his land at Musoma in Budalangi for years.
Alfred Oduaro's generosity knows no bounds. Despite not being rich, he believes in the saying 'the hand that gives, receives.' Every year, he welcomes flood victims, providing them with food and a place to call home. Currently, over 45 families are living on his one-and-a-half-acre land, which has been their refuge for the past two years after their houses were swept away by raging floods.
The floods, which occurred in 2019, left hundreds of people homeless. Oduaro decided to accommodate 165 people on his farm, saying, "My father also used to accommodate victims of floods on this land about 60 years ago. They are in need and I have no reason to deny them a place to stay," he told The Standard.
As the father of eight, Oduaro understands the struggles of the displaced families. He said, "Floods left these people homeless and helpless, it is quite difficult to make them comfortable. We do not have enough food and shelter and there is minimal support from the county government." The fear of waterborne diseases outbreak is also a concern due to the lack of space to sink pit latrines and poor hygiene.
Despite the challenges, Oduaro's kindness has brought hope to the families. Millicent Odeli, 65, who has been in the camp for the last two years, expressed her gratitude, saying, "If it were not for Oduaro's generosity, I do not know where I would be right now, together with my family." Evans Ouma, 81, also thanked Oduaro, saying, "The last time such serious floods occurred was 60 years ago and I was lucky because I was not affected then. Unfortunately, this time my house, crops and livestock were swept away by raging floods."
