Nyatike Communities Grapple with Devastating Floods and a Growing Crisis
Migori, Kenya – Over fifty families in Nyatike have been forced to abandon their homes as River Kuja breached its banks, inundating villages and pushing residents to seek refuge in local churches. The relentless downpour, which began earlier this month, has plunged communities in Nyora, Kabuto, and Angungo, North Kadem Ward, into a state of distress, transforming a once-welcome season into a profound humanitarian challenge.
The overflowing river has not only submerged residences but has also created a breeding ground for waterborne diseases due to the lack of proper sanitation. Compounding the misery are escalating food shortages and the terrifying presence of wild animals, particularly hippos, which are now freely roaming through former homesteads.
Rose Auma Otina, a widow from Angugo village, recounted the harrowing experience. “At first, when the floods came, at least I was still in my home. Later, wild animals encroached, and I had to move out because the hippos turned my home into grazing fields, attacking me and my cows,” she shared. The encroaching wildlife has turned daily life into a constant struggle for survival.
Residents have voiced frustration over what they perceive as a delayed response from authorities. Appeals to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) for intervention regarding the aggressive hippos have, according to residents, gone unanswered. “It’s not the first time we are calling KWS, but they have not responded to our appeals. We are living in fear,” Otina added, highlighting the vulnerability of children, the elderly, and widows to potentially fatal attacks.
The community is urgently appealing to the national government for immediate relief, including:
- Distribution of essential foodstuffs.
- Establishment of temporary settlements.
- Provision of medical supplies.
- An urgent response from KWS to address the wildlife threat.
“We need rescue now before it’s too late,” pleaded Vincent Awande, another resident. Awande also criticized the perceived negligence of authorities, pointing to a historical lack of flood mitigation measures in the region. He stressed the need for immediate action, accountability, and, crucially, long-term solutions to the recurring flooding problem.
“For so long, we’ve had floods in this region with no long-term solutions. All we see are politicians coming with their pocket changes to deceive our people with empty promises as we are left in the flood waters. We don’t want that this time round,” cautioned Tyron Seko, another resident, expressing a deep-seated distrust of superficial political interventions.
River Nyando Breaches Banks, Paralyzing Kisumu County
In a related and equally alarming development, River Nyando has also burst its banks following days of intense rainfall, submerging significant portions of Kisumu County and bringing transportation to a standstill along the critical Ahero-Kisumu highway.
The Ministry of Interior has confirmed the Ahero Bridge is currently impassable, with floodwaters inundating residential areas including Kakola, Kochogo, and Ombaka. Multi-agency teams have been rapidly deployed to the affected region as water levels continue to climb, threatening to displace thousands more in the Kano Plains.
The Kenya Red Cross Society has declared the situation critical, initiating urgent rescue operations. These efforts have already resulted in the successful relocation of over 200 people and hundreds of livestock to higher, safer ground.
A significant evacuation is currently underway at Ahero Girls National School, where Red Cross teams are working diligently to ensure the safety of more than 900 students.
“Kenya Red Cross and partners have rescued two families and evacuated over 200 people and over 200 livestock to safer grounds. Evacuation of over 900 students from Ahero Girls’ National School is currently underway,” the Red Cross stated in an official release, underscoring the scale of the emergency.
