Kakamega flood victims get relief care packages

Kakamega Women Representative Elsie Muhanda inspects the foodstuff that she later donated to flood victims in the county. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

At least 4000 families who were displaced by raging floods after rivers Nzoia and Yala burst its banks have received food and non-food supplies.

Beneficiaries yesterday received mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets, facemasks and soap from well-wishers valued at over Sh4.5million.

They also received maize, beans, sugar, rice, and salt, cooking oil and wheat flour rations.

The displaced flood victims are spread across Kakamega county and are sheltered in schools. Affected areas include Khwisero, Mumias West, Matungu, Navakholo, Lugari and Likuyani sub-counties.

Kakamega women representative Elsie Muhanda gave her donation alongside that of Kenya Pipeline and Butali Sugar Company.

Ms Muhanda said 100,000 face masks, distributed to vegetable vendors, boda boda riders and flood victims, were bought with the Sh500,000 coronavirus money received from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund.

Butali sugar gave sugar, Kenya Pipeline donating out soap and sanitisers with Ms Muhanda buying foodstuffs from her savings.

She said the national government had pledged to release more food to the flood victims as well as poor and vulnerable families who have been adversely affected by Covid-19.

So far, 219 people have died across the country due to flash floods according to Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa.

Ms Muhanda lamented that cases of defilement and rape involving teenage girls have increased in the area.

At least 15 school going girls below 16 years old have either been defiled, raped or have been forced into early marriages in Khwisero sub county alone according to Ms Muhanda.

She cited a case where a police officer attempted to rape a school girl at Emukaba in Lurambi sub-county recently before locals came to the victim’s rescue.