Two Feared Dead As Flood Wreaks Havoc in Kisumu

At least two people are feared dead and property swept aside after flash-floods hit parts of Kisumu yesterday. However, police officers denied knowledge of any death.
Kisumu deputy OCPD Muturi Mwongera said residents woke up yesterday morning in search of their relatives after the floods. Hundreds of Dunga residents spent most of their day searching for displaced relatives they suspected may have been swept away. Nyalenda ward Councillor Jackton Onunga said many people reported losing livestock.
In Muhoroni, 1, 500 people were reportedly displaced after their houses were flooded. Several business premises including the Mega City Building that houses the Nakumatt supermarket chain was affected. Employees at both the Nakumatt and Ukwala supermarkets spent better part of the day draining away water and repairing damages caused by the floods. Proprietors of entertainment joints decried heavy losses as rains kept off patrons from visiting their regular joints. Transport to and around the lakeside city was also paralysed following the overflow across many bridges.
Along Kisumu-Nairobi road, there was a long stretch of traffic jam on either side of the road as drivers feared that the Nyamasaria bridge may have been swept away. Nyanza deputy provincial police boss Larry Kieng said the jam spanned over 30 kilometres after motorist declined to cross the bridge. Traffic only began moving after water subsided later in the afternoon. Meanwhile, reports from Homabay say several houses were swept away along the banks of River Rangwena and the flood-prone area of Nyalkinyi. Many residents sought refuge on higher grounds.