A relentless deluge of heavy rains upstream has sent River Nyando surging, resulting in catastrophic flooding that has left thousands of residents homeless in Ahero and surrounding areas.
The overflow at Ahero Bridge on the Kisumu-Nairobi highway submerged homes, businesses, and farmland, prompting widespread panic and urgent pleas for humanitarian assistance.
Families in Ahero town were forced to abandon their belongings, taking refuge by the roadside as floodwaters claimed their homes.
With the situation deteriorating, locals voiced fears of further calamity as rains are expected to continue.
Mark Ochieng, a local resident, urged governmental intervention, calling this the second flooding disaster to hit the region in as many months.
The deluge has not only displaced at least 78 households but also wreaked havoc on local agriculture, sweeping away valuable rice harvests stored at Ahero market. Sub Chief Neto Awich confirmed that hundreds of acres of farmland had been lost and livestock swept downstream.
In response, Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga launched a relief operation, providing essentials at temporary shelters, including St Vitalis Nanga Primary School.
He emphasized the need for critical interventions such as desilting River Nyamasaria and improving flood defenses, while also revealing plans for relocation of affected families to safer areas.
