More than 134 households in Homa Bay County have been displaced following heavy rains on Wednesday night, causing widespread flooding in Rachuonyo North and Suba South in Kenya.
This marks the second major flood event in less than a year for these areas.
In Rachuonyo North, over 100 households were forced out of their homes in the villages of Kosano, Kamwaya, and Nyawana within Central Karachuonyo Ward.
Many affected residents have sought refuge at Simbi Primary School, a regular shelter during floods.
Kogembo Sub-Location Assistant Chief Hezekiah Owino reported that over 600 individuals, including women and children, have been displaced.
“Floods hit the villages at midnight when the families were asleep. Some were woken up when water got to their beds,” he said. At least 20 mud-walled houses have collapsed, and others remain at risk.
Residents believe the flooding was caused by River Awach Kibuon bursting its banks after heavy rainfall upstream. The disaster has destroyed crops, killed livestock, and caused significant damage to homes and farms, with many families losing essential household items.
In Suba South, more than 23 families in Nyandiwa were displaced when River Wangapala, a seasonal river, overflowed.
Some residents spent the night in the cold after roads, including the Nyandiwa-Kitawa route, were washed away. Gwassi West Chief Tobias Opiyo called for urgent medical and humanitarian assistance, warning that continued rainfall could worsen the situation.
Flooding has become a recurring issue in Rachuonyo North, with many families regularly relocating to camps during the rainy season.
Authorities have pledged to dredge local rivers to mitigate flooding, but delays persist. Karachuonyo MP Adipo Okuome urged the government to take swift action, emphasising the need for a lasting solution to prevent further displacement and losses.
