More than 3,000 families in Kapomboi Ward, Kwanza Constituency, have been displaced after River Sabwani overflowed its banks following days of relentless rainfall pounding Trans Nzoia County.
The surging waters have submerged homes and farmlands, leaving a trail of destruction and forcing residents to flee to higher ground. Entire villages now lie under murky floodwater that, at first glance, could easily be mistaken for a lake — a grim testament to the power of nature unleashed.
In the Namanjalala area, distraught residents were seen wading through knee-deep waters, salvaging what little they could. Crops have been swept away, livestock drowned, and homes reduced to shells of mud and debris.
“We have lost everything. Our crops are gone, our homes destroyed,” said Clare Mwenje, a resident of Namanjalala, her voice breaking as she surveyed her submerged home. Another resident, Susan Nanjala, echoed her despair: “The river flooded so fast, we barely escaped with our children.”
The flooding began when the swollen River Sabwani broke its banks, spilling over into nearby villages and farmlands. Residents say the tragedy could have been averted if the county government had completed the construction of protective dykes along the river.
“Had the dykes been finished, this wouldn’t have happened,” lamented Dawson Mudenyo, another local farmer who lost acres of maize and beans.
Responding to the mounting criticism, Charles Yabuna, the Sub-County Administrator, said the county is working closely with national agencies to coordinate rescue and relief efforts. “A joint response team is already on the ground assessing the situation and providing emergency assistance to affected families,” he assured.
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. The team is spearheading evacuations, emergency responses, and the distribution of food and non-food aid.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Meteorological Department has issued a fresh warning that heavy rainfall is expected to continue in the coming days, with isolated storms likely in several parts of the Rift Valley and western Kenya. Authorities are urging residents in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer grounds immediately.
As the rains persist and the muddy waters spread, thousands of families in Trans Nzoia now face an uncertain future — their lives upended by the rising tide of River Sabwani.
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