NYAMASAO, Kenya – Residents of Nyamasao village in Nyando Sub County are appealing for urgent humanitarian aid as heavy rains and flooding continue to wreak havoc in the region. Hundreds of families have been displaced due to the overflowing of River Nyando, with many seeking refuge in local schools.

According to Kenya News Agency, Beatrice Anyango, one of the displaced residents now sheltering at Nyamasao primary school, reported that they had to abandon their homes without any food supplies. She expressed concerns about the lack of response from both the county and national governments and highlighted the risk of waterborne diseases, especially among children and women at the shelter.

“We are at the mercy of our chief and his assistant,” Anyango stated, indicating that local administration officials, including the District Officer (D.O.) and the District Commissioner (D.C.), have been unreachable. The residents are struggling to meet their basic needs and are calling for immediate government action.

Anyango also emphasized the need for structural measures to control the flooding. She urged the national and county governments to expedite the construction of dykes and desilting of rivers in the area, as the persistent floods prevent them from engaging in farming.

Naomi Uhuru, another affected resident, implored the authorities to take proactive measures to prevent such disruptions every rainy season. She pointed out that the government’s earlier efforts to erect dykes were abandoned midway, leaving the community vulnerable to annual flooding.

“We have been perennial nomads since 2019 due to the floods,” Uhuru lamented, highlighting the ongoing plight of the community. The residents’ appeal underscores the urgent need for effective and lasting solutions to the recurring flood problem in the Nyando region.