Nakuru floods: Bad news, worse news and worst news for these farmers in Rongai
Maize farm in Salga ,Rongai constituency submerged in flood water.
At least five families in Rongai are counting their losses after their homes and farms were flooded by the heavy rains in Nakuru.
Most of these families have had to leave their homes and seek shelter elsewhere.
Francis Arap Malel from Mosop Ward tells Mtaa Wangu how Thursday night was a nightmare for them after water entered their house in the wee hours of the morning.
Francis Arap Malel a resident at Mosop Ward whose house was flooded due to the ongoing heavy rains being experienced in Nakuru.
"It was 2am when I heard the sound of a river flowing near my house, I was worried because the river is not close to my house, so I thought I was dreaming. However, when I put my feet on the floor inside the house to go and investigate what was happening, I was met with water almost up to my knees," said Mr Malel.
Shocked, he called for other family members, who responded immediately and began using containers to scoop water out of the house and empty it outside.
"We are currently looking for houses to move to, to find shelter with neighbours on higher ground who are willing to help us in our situation. The river next to us is a seasonal river, but during heavy rains it overflows into our homes and farms," he explains.
Alice Malel a resident of Mosop whose house was flooded and crops swept away by floods.
Alice Malel, who lives in the same compound as Francis, notes that apart from her house, what she had planted has either been destroyed by the excess water or washed away by the floods.
"I had planted maize, millet and beans. Now everything has been washed away. My heart aches because I will not have food for my family as I expected to get during the harvest season. I have tried to replant, but this is the second time this planting season that my crops have been washed away by the rains. At this point I have given up," she laments.
With only a few days left before schools reopen, Ms Alice says her children may be forced to stay at home if the situation remains the same.
Daniel Ndirangu a farmer unclogging a drainage that has been filled with silt, resulting in water flooding four of his 14 acre land in Rongai.
A stone's throw away, Daniel Ndirangu reads from the same script as his neighbours.
The maize, beans and tomatoes have all been swept away by the floods.
"I blame my current predicament on the county government, which has failed to clear the drainage tunnels after they fill up with silt. The flooding on my farm is a result of the water not having a proper channel to follow," says Mr Ndirangu.
What is left on a farm after the crops planted were swept away by floods caused by heavy rains in Mosop Ward.
He is now forced to do the work himself, using a rake to clear the drainage channel next to his farm to prevent further damage to his crops.
"My appeal to the Nakuru County government is that they should come to Mashinani and see how we are suffering. Let them use the funds allocated for disaster management to ease the burden on homeowners and farmers affected by the rains," he said.