Over 3,000 families displaced as River Sabwani bursts Its banks in Trans Nzoia
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More than 3,000 families in Kapomboi Ward, Kwanza Constituency, have been displaced after River Sabwani overflowed its banks following days of heavy rainfall pounding the region.
The raging floods have submerged homes and farmlands, leaving residents stranded and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
At first glance, the vast expanse of floodwater could easily be mistaken for a lake — but it is the devastating result of unrelenting rains that have wreaked havoc across several parts of the country, claiming lives and destroying livelihoods.
In the Namanjalala area, distraught residents continue to assess the damage after floodwaters swept through their farms, washing away crops that many depended on as their sole source of income.
The trouble began when the swollen River Sabwani broke its banks, inundating nearby villages and farmland.
“We have lost everything. Our crops are gone, our homes destroyed,” said Clare Mwenje, a resident of Namanjalala. Another resident, Susan Nanjala, echoed the same sentiments, describing how the floods had left families without food or shelter. “The river flooded so fast, we barely escaped with our children,” recounted Bernard Mulipuko.Residents have blamed the county government for failing to complete the construction of protective dykes along the river — a project they say could have prevented the disaster.
“Had the dykes been finished, this wouldn’t have happened,” lamented Dawson Mudenyo, another Namanjalala resident. Responding to the allegations, Charles Yabuna, the Sub-County Administrator, said the county is coordinating with national agencies to support affected families and assess the extent of the damage.The national government has since deployed a multi-agency team comprising National Government Administration Officers, the National Police Service, the Kenya Red Cross, and officials from relevant ministries to spearhead rescue and relief operations. The team is overseeing evacuation, emergency response, and distribution of aid to displaced residents.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that heavy rainfall is expected to persist over the coming days, with isolated storms likely in several regions. Authorities are urging residents living near rivers and flood-prone areas to move to higher ground as a precautionary measure.
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