This archive report was first published on 23 April 2020.
On April 21, 2020, the banks of River Nyando in Kisumu burst, unleashing devastating floods that have left hundreds of rice farmers counting their losses.
According to a report by the National Irrigation Board (NIB) Western Kenya, the value of rice destroyed so far is estimated at Sh810 million, with an additional Sh400 million worth of water channels, roads, and pathways also destroyed.
"This morning, we commissioned excavators to open channels to release flood water. We have had floods before but this is the worst in 30 years," said Joel Tanui, scheme manager at the Ahero Irrigation Scheme.
The floods have not only destroyed the rice crops but have also flattened the dykes and the harvest, leaving farmers with a significant loss. Alphonce Oruko, a rice farmer at the Ahero Irrigation Scheme, described the situation as the worst loss farmers have ever experienced.
George Okaka, chairman of the West Kano Scheme, estimated that 1,500 acres of paddy had been wasted, with the back flow from Lake Victoria affecting the paddy field and the recent flood worsening the situation.
Local leaders have called on the national government to intervene and address the issue of repeated floods in Nyando, which they attribute to the impact of climatic changes and the degradation of the Mau Forest.
