Hundreds of residents in Busia County continue to flock Munongo village in Matayos Sub County to see a newly formed water body, thought to be a lake by some residents, which they said may bring fortune to the area.
A team from the county government including Chief Officers Richard Achiambo and Caroline Kwedho (Agriculture), Patricia Okello (Public Service ) and Director of Fisheries Timothy Odende visited the village to find a beehive of activities in the once deserted village.
“We used to have a small stream with papyrus vegetation. We woke up last week to find a large waterway which keeps on expanding by the day. We fear some villagers might be displaced during rainy season,” said Justo Khayoko, 49.
The sudden rise in water levels has stunned residents with social media pages abuzz with news about the rare phenomenon.
Odende was non-committal that the waterway which is in a wetland area is a lake. “We need hydrologists to come and ascertain the dynamics of surface and underground water.”
The area has become an instant tourist attraction with over 1,000 people visiting the area daily to witness what they believe might become Busia’s 21st Beach.
Boda bodas are cashing in on the large number of people flocking the village. Women are reaping from selling sodas, tea, chapati, and mandazi while the youth have erected a small toll station to charge those who access the water body.
Achiambo advised the owner of the farm near the waterway to take advantage of the County Agriculture Development Fund to venture into agriculture to sustain himself economically.
Busia Women representative aspirant Zilpah Bett who visited the area said the number of people visiting the water scene indicates there is an urgent need to confirm from experts whether it was a lake.
A missionary from the United States Elder Merritt who visited the village to confirm the rumour said it was strange to see such water body emerging during the dry season.