Over 62,000 Kenyans displaced as 138 camps set up for flood victims

Over 62,000 Kenyans have been displaced by the ongoing floods and are currently living in various camps for the internally displaced across the country.

Data from the Ministry of Interior and National Administration shows that there are over 138 camps for Internally Displaced Persons, with more evacuations expected as the rains continue to intensify.

Nairobi and Tana River counties are leading with the highest number of camps at 35 and 30 respectively, painting a picture of a country grappling with the devastating effects of heavy rains and flooding that have left hundreds dead and millions lost in damaged infrastructure.

Citizen TV visited some of the IDP camps at a field in Adhele, Madogo in Tana River County, where women were busy racing against time to put up enough shelters to shield their families from the rains.

The camp is currently hosting 500 persons who were forced to flee from their homes ten days ago.

For each of those days, they have spent their nights under the open skies, braving the cold and the torrential rains in this IDP camp. 

“Tumeletwa na maji hapa, tumesombwa. Ni uhai yetu tumeleta hapa. Tunaomba usaidizi, wakubwa wa serikali mjue tuko hapa. Leo ni siku ya kumi hatujaona msaada. Mtuletee msaada,” said a victim, Labo Hussein.

Another, Nasibo Dokacha, added: “Tafadhali tunaomba tusaidiwe. Sana sana kwa hii kambi, shida yetu kubwa ni choo, chakula na maji. Shida ya njaa ndio zaidi nyumba hatuna na ndio mvua inanyesha.

The affected persons are blaming the government for neglecting them to their own devices, with no food or proper shelter.

They say they heeded the government’s warning to move to higher and safer grounds to avoid getting swept away by the flood waters, but the government has seemingly forgotten them after they got out of harm’s way.

“Tumehama tukajenga hivi vibanda. Vitu vyetu vimesombwa, zingine ziko kwa majirani. Hatuna vitu za kujisitiri ama hata nguo ya kujifunikia,” Adhele Village elder Athman Mwaura stated.

On the shores of Lake Victoria, it is a similar script for Diana Osano’s household which is among the 500 households camping at Osodo camp for the internally displaced.

Diana is camping with her husband and seven children, and her greatest worry is placing a meal on the table for her family.

The small communities' fates are conjoined by the flood tragedy which led them to flee their homes after River Miriu broke its banks and swept away their homes.

For the time they have been at the camp, they lament the government has not supported them in form or kind, and they rely on well-wishers for the most basic of their needs.

“Jinsi ya kulala hapa ni ngumu. Tuko na watoto na adolescents na tunalala wote pamoja. Lishe bora pia haiko. Insecurity pia ni mingi,..Tumeishi kwa giza,” said Diana.

In Nakuru County, victims of the Mai Mahiu tragedy are still camped at Ngeya Secondary School, adding to the increasing numbers of those displaced from their homes. 

The victims who are under full government support are however worried they will be homeless once schools reopen, and are calling for the national and county government to resettle them.

“Serikali sasa inatusaidia, kuna watu wanalala chini lakini tuko na chakula. Ukiangalia kule watu wameletewa nguo na chakula. Tuko hapa,” said a victim at Ngeya IDP Camp in Nakuru.

Data released by the Interior ministry points to the picture of a country left reeling by the ongoing floods. 

The government says there are 138 camps across 18 counties to host victims of the floods, with over 62,061 persons from 14,771 households currently being supported with food and non-food essentials.

“Nairobi County has borne the brunt of the floods and bears the highest number of camps. The city has 35 camps hosting over 8,000 people followed closely by Tana River County with 30 IDP camps and 5,158 displaced persons,” Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said in a statement.

“Kisumu County records 16 camps and 6,155 flood victims. Garissa County leads with the highest number of displaced persons, with over 21,597 people spread across 11 IDP camps. Busia County is also among those grappling with the effects of the heavy rainfall pounding the country, and has 8,195 persons distributed across 10 camps.”

County security committees are continuously monitoring the situation to ensure shelter points for all the affected persons.