Written by Carren Papai, Protus Simiyu and Joseph Amunya 2012-05-16 11:44:00 Read 879 Times

Miyanga villagers viewing the bodies of the family whose house collapsed due to heavy rains killing the father, mother and their 6 months child. Photo I Carren Papai

Three bodies Wednesday morning were retrieved by villagers and police of a man, his wife and their 6 months old baby from a house that collapsed on them at Miyanga Village of Bumula District in Bungoma County.

The deceased, Moses Wanjala, 36, Mildred Nasimiyu, 34, and their 6 months child were found dead according to Raphel Muiruri who is the area DC who disclosed that four children survived from the incident with one of them being hospitalized at Kocholia District Hospital after sustaining injuries.

Muiruri noted that the house in which the family lived in was weakened due to the heavy rains that continue to pound in the area.

The DC expressed concern over the incident saying it was a pity to lose such a young family and disclosed that plans are underway to re-locate the affected families to safe place to avoid more damage and deaths.

 He urged the residents to remain vigilant as they wait for along lasting solution from the ministry of special planning. He also revealed that the incident is the worst that has ever happened in the area despite the normal floods that affects farming activities and animals.

Speaking to West Fm at the scene, the Red Cross Society Chairman Bungoma Branch Dr,Amin Sheikh said that the area is experiencing an underground floods that penetrate the houses of the residents by breaking the walls  hence causing damage. Sheikh said that the society wants to establish the cause of the underground floods in order to come up with along lasting solution.

The area Chief Shaffy Juma Fwamba said there is an urgent need for government intervention to avert similar incidents in the region while pointing out that the residents now are in fear for their lives owing to the floods being experienced in the region.

He disclosed that people in Muyenga, Mukirimo, Kitingia, Lelekwa, Abokori and Siilila villages in Bumula district have moved out of their homesteads sheltering at market centers helplessly after their homes were submerged in flooding water.

Kimwanga Parish Catholic Church Priest Father Leonard Ekesa,former area councillor Henry Wanyonyi, assistant Chief Reuben Kuloba and Chief Shaff Juma Fwamba. Photo I Protus Simiyu

The Kimwanga Parish Catholic Church head priest, Father Leonard Ekesa said it is a pity that people can die because of floods in a region where water can be controlled easily.

He called for visionary leadership that has the interest of the community at heart while asserting that protection of human life is paramount to any given leadership.

The priest challenged leaders in the region to come together and chat a way forward and end the problem of flooding water in the district.

He pointed out that the government should provide funds to dig drainages along the roads in the district to direct water to its right course.

“There is lack of political will to solve problems affecting the community; this is not Bunyala or Budalangi where floods are stubborn, water here can be controlled but it is absurd that our leaders continue to remain aloof,’’ He said.

Elsewhere, in Lugari, r esidents living in both Kakamega and Uasin Gishu counties have been warned against moving closer to Kipkaren River after four bodies were recovered from it over the weekend.

Lugari district deputy police boss Mr. Gregory Mutiso confirmed recovery of four bodies of men aged between 20 and 35, from the flooding river between Friday and Sunday.

He said that one body was recovered on Friday, two on Saturday and the other one on Sunday.

Mutiso added that the bodies were discovered by sand harvesters, whom he commended for assisting the police to remove them from the raging waters.

According to the police boss all the bodies have been taken to Webuye District Hospital mortuary.

The river burst its banks last week following the ongoing heavy rainfalls in the region.

Mutiso disclosed that three of the four bodies have already been identified by their owners while at the same time appealed to members of the public, especially those living along the river, to get in touch with his office or Webuye mortuary in case of a missing person aged about 25 years.

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