Kisumu: Over 300 families displaced after River Sondu Miriu bursts its banks

More than 300 families from Nyadina village in Nyakach have been displaced by River Sondu Miriu, which burst its banks following a night of heavy rains.

Citizen TV visited the village in Kisumu County where crops have been destroyed, with several heads of cattle reportedly swept away by the raging waters.

The aftermath of River Sondu Miriu breaking its banks on Monday has left Nyadina village in Kisumu underwater with 300 families displaced and more than 500 acres of crops laid to waste.

Boats floated above what were pathways connecting houses within the village and those who could not afford boat transport waded through the water

“Mashamba zimeharibika huku maharagwe zangu zimeharibika. Mwezi wa kwanza watoto wanafaa kuenda shule nashangaa hata watoto wataenda aje juu hii ndio nilikuwa nategemea,” Ruth Otieno, a resident, said.

Alfred Njoga added: “Ng’ombe imeenda yote na maji…kuku na masufuria pia. Hawa watu hata hawana masufuria; mnafaa mwaletee ndio wapike nayo hiyo unga yenu mmeleta hapa.”

Water sources have also been contaminated, with children and pregnant women now staring at a possible risk of contracting malaria and waterborne diseases due to the stagnant flood water.

“Ugonjwa ya hapa ni mingi. Hawa watu wanahara seriously wanateseka. Watoto wamejaa kwa nyumba hata hawawezi toka nje kwa sababu malaria iko mingi,” Njoga added.

“Na hospitali tunaenda tu ng’ambo. Hatuwezi pata dawa. Sasa hawa wenye tuliwapigia kura kwa wingi wakati wa campaign wakuje waone wenye waliwapigia kura,” said another resident, Roselyne Akoth.

The affected residents have also called for immediate medical intervention due to the risk of contracting waterborne diseases.

As more people continue to suffer the devastating effects of heavy rains, residents of Nyadina in Kisumu are appealing for the setting up of dykes along River Sondu Miriu in order to save them from the raging waters.