Family mourns loss of three children in Suba landslide

The flood situation in Sindo town in Homa Bay County on April 28, 2024. [James Omoro, Standard]

A family in Homa Bay County is mourning the loss of three children following a landslide caused by a flood tragedy.

So far the death toll from the incident in Suba South rose to four after one more body was retrieved.

Silvance Otieno and Benta Otieno, residents of Kisaku village, Rang’wa East Location in Kaksingri West Location lost their three children Calvince Otieno, 12, Florence Evidon Otieno, 7, and Moses Otieno, 5.  

The fourth victim was a 42-year-old woman who was a resident of the village.

Benta Otieno, the mother to the deceased said her children were in the house with their father on Sunday before the raging flood waters demolished it sweeping them away.

She said her husband was lucky after he was rescued by first responders.

Otieno was rescued some meters away from his house in a critical condition when he was stuck in debris before being rushed to hospital.

The bodies of Calvince and Moses were later retrieved a few kilometers from their home.

“The children were in the house with their father but when I returned home immediately after the rain, I found my house already demolished. It is very sad to lose children in this manner,” Benta mourned.

The mother of nine expressed concerns that she had lost all property she had in her house.

“I am appealing to the government to intervene and come to my aid. This disaster has left me with no property except the clothes I and my remaining children had put on,” she said.

Suba South MP Caroli Omondi and Suba Deputy County Commissioner Sebastian Okiring toured the scene of the landslide and visited the bereaved family on Monday evening.

Omondi expressed concerns over the deaths and injuries during the landslide.

Suba Deputy County Commissioner Sebastian Okiring, MP Caroli Omondi condole with the family of Benta Otieno (seated), after she lost her three children in floods. [James Omoro, Standard]

“Let me convey my condolences to the bereaved families. We have already arranged for medication for some of the people who were seriously injured in the incident,” Omondi said.

The MP said their preliminary reports indicated that more than 900 people had been affected by the incident.

He said he made arrangements with various government agencies to intervene with humanitarian aid to support affected families.

“The people are in dire need of support and my office in collaboration with the national government and county government agencies are trying as much as we can to support the affected persons,” Omondi said.

He called on the government Department of Geology to assess the scene and to unravel the problems which occurred.

“I urge geologists to come here and help us know what caused this serious landslide,” Omondi said.

Okiring said the landslide destroyed about 100 houses in which more than 20 houses were swept away by the floods.

He said the national government had given out 150 mattresses and 20 bales for distribution to the affected families.

“We are on top of things to ensure the affected families get support. We are working with other government agencies and non-governmental organizations to provide relief aid to the affected families,” Okiring said.

The bodies were moved to Sindo Sub-county hospital mortuary.