The unprecedented downpour has ripped through River Nyando, a vital artery in Kisumu County. Over 800 acres of land have been swept away, leaving behind a trail of loss and damage. Homes are marooned, businesses are in tatters, and families are separated.

Speaking to Liberal News Network, a distraught resident near the river painted a grim picture. “This is the time things have gotten out of hand,” he lamented. “I don’t know where my family is. Our houses are underwater, businesses are destroyed. We can’t stay here tonight.”

The relentless water has shown no mercy, taking not only homes and businesses but also innocent lives. Local residents report that a significant number of animals have been swept away in the current.

The desperation is palpable as residents decry relentlessly.

“We need permanent solutions to the flooding situation,” residents cried out. “We haven’t seen any response, but we hope our Member of Parliament will help us get through this trying time.”

Kenya’s National Disaster Management Agency faces a monumental task. The country is reeling from weeks of torrential rain, and River Nyando’s plight is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Urgent action is necessary to rescue those displaced, provide shelter and essential supplies, and begin the long road to rebuilding lives and communities.

The international community is watching closely, with many local and grassroot organizations already offering support. However, the scale of the crisis demands a unified and robust response to help Kenya weather this storm and emerge stronger.

Opposition leader are  requesting the incumbent government to declare the floods a national disaster and they hope President Ruto will heed to the cause.