REPORTS LEO Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

At least five people have been confirmed by the police to have died in flush floods that have hit the Kisumu City and its environs, following the torrential rains which began last Sunday, and continued incessantly up to Wednesday night..

Two hitherto unheard of rivers burst their banks and flooded large areas. The worst is river Nyamasaria, which is within the outskirt of southern suburb of Kisumu. It has claimed the lives of four people who were washed away by fast flowing waters.

On the Northwest of the City, River Kisat swept a man away. His body was later retrieved while floating along the shore of Lake Victoria near the Nyanza Golf Club, and not far away from the Kisumu Airport.

The floods have also destroyed close to 600 dwelling houses and swept away those whose walls were made of mud. It is being moderately estimated that the rising floods have left close to 1000 people homeless.

The Kenya Red Cross Society has moved in, trying to assist those left without a home. Fears persist that with more rains on the way, more people will lose their homes.

The rains, which were accompanies by severe thunderstoms, started pounding Kisumu and its environs last Sunday afternoon, and continued for the whole night, also left many houses submerged in water.

Ombeyi River in Kadibo and part of Miwani areas had the heaviest flood by yesterday. River Ombeyi burst its banks on both side and flooded large areas. The storms have destroyed several schools, some of whose roofs were blown off and their iron sheet debris retrieved several kilometers away.

Both the Red Cross and the government have advised people to move and get shelter with their relatives at higher grounds . The advice was channeled especially to those who live next to rivers

The Red Cross spokesman said close to 1000 people now need anti-malarial drugs, blankets, mosquito nets and food as the flood has destroyed food grains in the granaries and swept it away. The flood has killed domesticated animals, including chickens, goats and sheep.

So far Nyando River, which is usually causing more havoc with the lives of the residents of the Kano Plains has yet to burst its banks, although its water has swollen up. Perhaps this is due to dykes built along its banks with the funds supplied by the Kenyan government a couple of years ago, and also by volunteers among the resident under the superviusin of the former area Mp Eng Eric Opon Nyamunga. The credit goes to the former legislator for having brought to an end the perennial flooding of the lower parts of Nyando constituency.

Fears persist, however, that residents of lower Nyakach will have to move to higher grounds as the resident expect the El-Niño rains to last up to November.

Areas previously known to be prone to floods ,including Nyatike, East Karachuoyo, Kochia have yet to receive the heaviest rains. It has only concentrated in areas around Kisumu City and Miwani areas within the Kano Plains, and parts of North and West Nyakach areas.

A man by the name Hagai Mugingo was fished out along the shore of Lake Victoria, after being washed away by river Kisat, which originates from Bandani suburb of Kisumu City. A ten year school boy was also killed by the rising waters of river Nyamasaria .

Children and adults could be seen making easy catches of fish along the fast flowing River Nyamasaria.

With the arrival of the short rains in many parts of Western Kenya, the prices of green vegetables, which had sky rocked seemed to becoming down, though that of grain is still the highest, with two kg of ungrinded maize costing up to Kshs 100 in maize producing areas like Migori, Kakamega, Bureti, Bomet, Nyamira, Trans-Mara, Rongo, Kasipul Kabondo. Farmers appeared to be hording the commodity, waiting for the prices to go up threefold within the next one or two months.

The Schools, which had their roofs blown off include Nyalenda and Magare within Kisumu City. Also destroyed are close to 30 houses at Nanga, which is Dunga fish landing beach, within the outskirt of Kisumu City. The heavy rains seemed to have concentrated around the City and its environs, but still very sketchy in rural locations surrounding the region.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
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From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Wed, Sep 23, 2009 at 11:57 PM
Subject: