Floods disrupt learning after schools cut off

Learning has been paralysed in at least 10 schools in Kisumu, Migori and Homa Bay counties after classrooms were flooded and roads leading to the institutions cut off by the waters.

In Kisumu, over 2,000 pupils in Kakola Ombaka did not resume learning yesterday after three schools were marooned by floods.

Ombaka Secondary School, Nyamasao and Ogenya primary schools remained inaccessible after roads were cut off and water filled classrooms after River Nyando burst its banks three days ago following heavy rains.

Also affected were Kandaria Secondary and Kandaria Primary schools in Kabonyo in Rabuor, Nyando Sub-county.

Yesterday, a number of students at Ombaka Secondary School had gone to school to salvage their belongings.

Duncan Ogola, a Form Two student at the school, said teachers advised them to stay at home.

The area chief Jacob Ongudi reported that 350 households were hit by flash floods, with 4,000 residents displaced after their farms were submerged in water.

Ongudi said two evacuation centres had been established and were hosting 180 victims while the rest stayed with their relatives.

He said the affected areas were facing a crisis after pit latrines were filled with water and could not be used.

“We also don’t have drinking water since the wells that we depend on for clean water have been filled with dirty flood water,” Ogundi said.

The situation has been worsened by the fact that schools that normally host flood victims had also been submerged in water.

“We have been forced to stay in the cold with our children and ageing parents. There is nowhere to seek refuge,” said Joseph Otieno, a villager.

The county director of education Isaak Atebe said they were aware of the crisis and that they would make a joint decision on the fate of the schools in collaboration with emergency response agencies and the Ministry of Interior.

Mr Atebe said that at Nyalunya Secondary School, many students who were meant to join Form One had not reported to school due to the floods that had made it inaccessible.

In Migori, learning was paralysed at Sere, Angugo, Nyora and Modi primary schools and St Joseph Modi Mixed Secondary School in North Kadem Ward.

Kakelo Kakoth Location Chief Sospeter Oloo said several homes were flooded and roads leading to the schools rendered impassable.

North Kadem ward administrator Serock Acholla called on the Migori County Disaster Management team to act fast and salvage the situation.

In Homa Bay, pupils from two primary schools were forced to learn in flooded classrooms.

The floods also displaced 450 households.

At Osodo Primary School, some 270 victims pitched tents in the school compound, amid a shortage of latrines.

The school’s headteacher Walter Owino said they had only two latrines being used by the 700 pupils, adding that the situation had been worsened by the arrival of flood victims.

Elsewhere, two cows were killed after lightning struck Gathiku village in Mathioya, Murang’a  county.

They were struck at around 9pm as heavy rains hit upper parts of the region on Saturday night.

Four homes neighbouring that of Gabriel Mutuga, where the cows were struck, suffered destruction of electronic equipment.

Mutugi described the incident as unfortunate as the animals belonged to his son Silas Macharia.

“It is lucky none of the residents in the locality was injured despite the loss incurred by the locals,” said Mutugi.  

He added he realised the effects of the disaster after he moved out to check the cause of a power blackout.

“The two dairy cows that have been a source of income to my son were struck by the lightning,” he said.

Hiram Mwaura, a resident, suspected the equipment were destroyed after the electricity transformer blew up.

Mathioya Deputy County Commissioner Kipchumba Rutto said the government would install lightning arrestors in the area to save lives. 

“Residents are encouraged to report incidents to the authorities,” said Rutto.

Elsewhere, more than 60 families have been displaced in Kwanza, Trans Nzoia County, following heavy rains that have pounded the area for the last one week, ward reps have said.

Several roads have been rendered impassable following the rains.

Families flee

Families in Timbalel and Namanjalala areas have been forced to flee their homes fearing for their lives as the rains intensified.

Humphrey Wanyonyi, a resident, said River Sabwani burst its banks, causing floods that have displaced several villagers.

Some pupils, he said, were unable to access school due to flooded Kapswetwet bridge.

“Most of the displaced families have sought refuge in safe areas like Namanjalala market while others have fled to Kwanza trading centre,’’ he said.

He said learning at Timbalela and Kapswetwet primary and secondary schools had been paralysed by the rains.

Most of the residents had returned to their homes after last year’s floods wreaked havoc in the area and displaced them in September and October.

“Some of the affected families only returned to their homes last December and were planning to rebuild their lives when they were again forced out by floods,’’ said area Member of County Assembly Ben Wanjala Mulipuko.

Mr Mulipuko said the government was yet to construct dykes in the area to control the floods.

Last year, Cabinet Secretary for Devolution Eugene Wamalwa, while touring the area to assess the flood situation, announced that the government had set aside Sh20 million to construct dykes to control the flooding.

Some roads in Saboti, Kwanza and Endebess sub-counties have become impassable, with residents finding it difficult to transport their produce to markets, Mulipuko said.

The situation has forced some public service vehicle operators to increase fares by between 30 and 50 per cent.