This archive report was first published on 22 April 2020.
Heavy rains pounding the country have left a trail of destruction, claiming lives and destroying property in various parts of the country.
Residents of lower Nyando in Kisumu County are living in fear after River Nyando broke its banks, submerging over 50 per cent of Ahero shopping centre and stretching to Lela area along the busy Kisumu-Nairobi highway.
According to residents, the floods are the worst in the region in many years.
Lela chief Lawrence Onyango said more than 800 households are affected at Kanyumba village.
Meanwhile, in Nyalenda slums, an outbreak of waterborne diseases looms after several homes were marooned by flood waters occasioned by Lake Victoria backflow.
Affected residents of Nanga, Lower Katuoro, Kapuothe, and Dunga areas are now appealing for help.
"The coronavirus is the least of our concerns right now; our main worry is what we will eat and the likelihood of waterborne diseases outbreak," said Mr Dan Odhiambo, a Dunga resident.
Close to 100 families have been displaced by the raging waters in Siaya, according to area deputy county commissioner Tom Macheneri.
Residents of West Ugenya are also affected by the floods, with the entire Sifuyo West sub-location along River Nzoia — which has burst its banks — affected by the floods.
Some 800 people from the estimated 95 households have fallen victim to Mother Nature’s fury.
Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda described the situation as “horrible”.
"The rising lake levels remain a huge concern as it’s submerging adjacent arable lands. All our islands and beach facilities like bandas are all under water. Oyamo, Ndeda, Mageta, and virtually all beach sites are no more," Dr Ochanda said.
Residents of Kipchumwa location near the landslide-hit Chesegon in Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot counties are struggling to come to terms with the possibility of losing 26 people to the flash floods and landslides that hit the area last Saturday.
The missing people were from Kokiso, Kobil, Katilit, and Sewes villages.
Embobut/Embolot MCA Paul Kipchumba said 10 pupils from Mungwo Primary School, four from Cheptany primary, one from Chemisto primary, and one student each from Kipkaner and Tot secondary schools have so far been reported missing.
By Wednesday, only three bodies had been found and 23 still unaccounted for.
The government deployed Kenya Defence Forces soldiers to search for the missing as local leaders appealed for humanitarian support for the over 4,000 people displaced by the floods and mudslides.
Several people have been killed by floods in South Rift, including two people — a six-year-old boy and a man aged 30 — who died on Tuesday evening in Illaut area in Samburu.
Residents of Elburgon town are also struggling to come to terms with the destruction caused by floodwaters, which destroyed farms, roads, churches, residential houses, household goods, and washed away livestock after River Muro broke its banks.
Residents of Mombasa are living in fear after their houses were flooded following heavy rains.
At Muoroto, residents said their houses were partially submerged by the rising tide.
"We are living in fear after we woke up to a pool in our houses. With the rains pounding Mombasa, things will be dire. We are appealing for help," said Ms Jecinta Mweu, a resident.
