Stipends help families recover from losses caused by floods

Locals wade through flooded road in Mabinju, Budalangi. [Mercy Kahenda, Standard] When raging waters swept through villages and towns across the nation, they left death and devastation in their wake. Affected people had to seek refuge away from their inundated homes and some are still living camps for the displaced until now. 62-year-old Alexander Odemba vividly recalls the nightmarish night, when the waters submerged his house, leaving him and his family struggling. "I could only watch as the floodwaters swept away my cows and chickens," Odemba recalls. "I battled in the raging waters to rescue my children to a higher ground." The floods caused him loss of property worth at least Sh1 million in houses, livestock and farm land. Backflow from Lake Victoria reported in 2019, coupled with floods following heavy downpour in 2020 nettles an already bad situation for residents of Khumwanda village in Busia county. Since then, Odemba moved to a local camp for displaced persons "My family is scattered. I cannot stay with my wife and children at the camp because the house given by the host family is too small. She stays in a different camp, while some of my children are living with their friends," he says. However, living at the camp is a tall order as he cannot engage in an income generating endevour. Before displacement, he was a crops and livestock farmer, and would supplement his income by fishing. Alexander Odemba at Kumwanda flood displacement camp in Budalangi, after his homestead was submerged by floods. [Courtesy] Fishing zones at the lake have been reduced by the spread of water hyacinth. Quality of water, Odemba says, has also been compromised by pollution, which affects fish production. "It is worrying that we cannot ride freely on the lake to fish because of overgrown vegetation. I also do not have fishing tools," narrates Odemba. Due to lack of income, he depends on well-wishers for support. Odemba is a beneficiary of Sh6,000, under the productive livelihood interventions for recovery, from the Kenya Red Cross Society. He used part of the money to pay school fees for his grandchildren and food. "I am happy that even as I struggle to make ends meet, my children are in school, thanks to the recovery funds," he says. Oliver Ojiambo, regrets his decision to drop out of school, at Standard Six, to venture into fishing, a venture that would earn him between Sh1,000 and Sh5,000 every day. But things have shifted, and the windfall is no longer viable. "It is unfortunate that I cannot go back to school, yet the income earning activity that I had banked on to establish a future is no longer dependable," says Ojiambo. He is also a recipient of Sh6000 stipend, which he has invested in pig farming. He says this generates a good income for him, adding that it is cheaper. After all, pigs feed on leftovers and grass, which are easily available. Additionally, pigs require smaller farming space and multiply faster. Price of a mature pig ranges between Sh15,000 and Sh20,000. "I prefer pig farming because pigs deliver twice a year, and I will be able to increase production in a short period," says Ojiambo. In 2022, Millicent Odinga returned to her home after waters subsided, but was forced back to the Khumwanda camp in April as floods spiked. "I came back to the camp in April after my home got submerged in water," says Odinga. Back at her home, she used to own a grocery, selling oranges, vegetables and tomatoes, including flour and charcoal. Odinga also received Sh6,000, which she used to start a small business of selling green grocery. "I am happy my small business is able to earn me income for feeding my children. I am looking forward to growing it into a bigger venture," says cites Odinga. Maurice Anyango, Head of Region for West Kenya for Kenya Red Cross Society, notes that the Kshs 6,000 multipurpose allowance from the Germany Embassy, is meant to enable displaced families to afford basic needs like food, water and medication."I am happy that despite the sum being little, a number of families have been able to use it in establishing respective small income generating activities," he says. Additionally, at least 400 fishermen in Kisumu, Homa Bay and Busia counties will be provided with fishing gears and training in safe fishing while; 400 women will be supported with entrepreneurial training, environmentally friendly cooking stoves also known as jikos, as well as cash transfer of Kshs 20,000 of to re-establish businesses. Plans are also underway to train women affected by floods on village saving and loaning models, to boost their financial power. According to Kenya Red Cross Society, the country witnessed five prolonged seasons of failed rains until the onset of October November December rain seasons in 2023, where at least 18 counties were supported with humanitarian aid including food.Some counties that were greatly affected by prolonged drought also suffered adverse effects of the short rains reported in October, November and December 2023. Among affected counties were Wajir, Tana River, Garissa, Mandera and Baringo.Further, the 2024 March April and May long rains affected 43 counties, resulting in population displacement, infrastructure damage and disruption in healthcare services.In West Kenya, four counties that were greatly impacted by floods include Migori, Homa Bay, Kisumu and Busia.Apart from the direct riverine floods from the major rivers in the West Kenya Region, flooding in Kisumu, Homa Bay and Busia is a result of backflow from Lake Victoria since 2019, which has continued to cause massive displacements in the three counties. Bunyala sub county in Busia county has at least 15 displacements camps to date."Busia has perennially been affected by floods from River Nzoia, but we are witnessing integration of backflow from Lake Victoria as well as floods from major rivers. From this community, we have had communities living in camps from 2019, when backflow from Lake Victoria begun," notes a report by Kenya Red Cross Society. Additional data by the society shows that this year, 17,915 households and 107,490 persons were displaced as a result of flooding experienced in Western and Nyanza regions. According to Anyango, the capacity to anticipate, prepare,and respond to shocks in Homa Bay and Busia counties will be enhanced through disaster risk reduction interventions. The interventions will also see improved access to water and primary healthcare services through water, sanitation and hygiene and health interventions. "A higher number of individuals cannot go fishing and farming, major economic activities, as farms have been submerged in waters. Fishermen lost their fishing netsWe are calling for partners for more support because backflow from Lake Victoria is not something that is coming to an end," pleads Anyango. With predicted October, November and December short rains, locals in the camps are living in fear of more displacements.

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