Floods have rendered hundreds of families homeless and crippled transport in parts of western Kenya. In the last three days, several homes in Nyatike, Migori, Nyando, Usenge and Got Agulu in Siaya have been submerged.
Farmers are counting huge losses after the heavy downpour destroyed crops and farms in Nyatike and Got Agulu.
Residents have been forced to craft ingenious ways to cross swollen rivers after the rains destroyed footbridges in some areas.
In Nyatike, residents can hardly access a key health facility that serves hundreds of people even as families moved to safer grounds.
A spot check by The Saturday Standard on Friday established that most homes were still submerged.
Faith Abuto, who hails from Kabuto village in Nyatike, stood in agony as she surveyed her vegetable farm destroyed by floods. Lost for words, Abuto could not estimate her loss.
A dyke villages hoped would have saved them from the raging floods after nearby River Kuja broke it's banks was swept away by the floods. At least 100 households were affected.
Abuto, a mother of four, had her tomatoes, sweet potatoes and maize crops swept away. "We have been left with nothing to eat and children can't go to school," she said.
The floods left her picking vegetables that survived the wrath of the floods. Villagers have to had wade through water to access their compounds. Meshack Ajwang who lives near a section of the dyke that was swept away also suffered a similar fate. His farm is still submerged.
Ajwang said he lost maize and sweet potatoes after river Kuja broke it's banks on April 2. Patients who went to seek treatment at Kabuto Dispensary at the weekend found it's gate locked as part of the facility was still flooded.
"I'm now stranded as I am sick and I have a sick child too but there are no doctors because of the floods," said Sharon Achieng.
Joy Were says she had a sick child but has been stranded since the hospital isn't accessible. She needed Sh300 as fare to the next hospital.
Residents have appealed to the county and national governments to intervene and rehabilitate the collapsed dyke erected in 2014. "We are worried because if it rains at night we shall not be safe," David Oyier, a resident of Kabuto, said.
Migori County Environment and Disaster Management Executive Rahab Robi asked residents to move to safer grounds. "We will locate them and help them from wherever they will," said Robi.
In Siaya, some families were forced to seek refuge in churches at Ulowa village due to floods. Jeremiah Mito, a resident, said they are at the risk of wildlife attacks.
"Because of the raging waters, hippos are now seen marauding in homes posing danger to the villagers," said Mito.
