Rescue ongoing for families marooned by Nyando floods

A joint team of Kenya Red Cross personnel, Kenya Coast Guard Services, St John's Ambulance, and Kisumu fire department are using boats to access the submerged villages.

Villages like Kathoo, Obiayo, Tura, Okanja, Panadol etc are the worst hit with many stuck within their homes waiting for rescue.

Those already rescued are being moved to the Onjiko Secondary School which has been turned into a rescue centre.

A chopper belonging to Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) is airlifting those rescued to the centre as they receive medical attention once at Onjiko with fears that most families spent the night in the cold in the affected villages.

Acres of farmland within the rice growing areas in Nyando have been washed away, and animals too as a result of the flood waters caused by River Nyando overflow.

At the Ahero bridge along the Kisumu Nairobi highway, transport activities have fully resumed with the water levels now subsiding making motorists able to easily pass as opposed to morning hours when it was impossible.

Affected residents are still appealing for more help especially food and non-food items with many now asking the government to have a permanent relocation for them to evade the perennial flooding.