- EDITORIAL BRIEF: The loss of lives and displacement of families during the rainfall in Homa Bay county is a tragic event. It is essential for the government and other stakeholders to put in place measures to mitigate the effects of natural disasters such as floods and lightning strikes. Such measures include setting up early warning systems, providing emergency response services, and building infrastructure that can withstand harsh weather conditions. It is also necessary for communities to be sensitized on safety measures to take during such weather conditions to avoid such unfortunate incidents.Unfortunately, the region kingpin Raila Odinga has done nothing to directly mitigate the situation or even pressure the government to help residents of his loyal voting block!
Three people, including a couple, lost their lives during a rainfall in Homa Bay on Sunday night. The couple, aged 34, were watching TV in their Aluor Village home in Lambwe East location, Suba North constituency when lightning struck, killing them instantly.
The Chief of Lambwe East Location, Benard Ouma, reported that the lightning broke electric cables from a solar panel on the roof of their house and killed a bull, removing its tongue, in the same homestead. The couple’s two daughters aged six and four years old survived the tragedy and were found sleeping on the chairs the next morning.
In another incident, a 38-year-old man identified as Fred Otieno was killed by flood water near Kodero Beach in Rachuonyo North Sub-county. Otieno was climbing a hill when he was swept away by flood water caused by the heavy rainfall. The chairman of Beach Management Units in West Karachuonyo ward, Samuel Osendo, confirmed the incident.
Furthermore, over eight families at Tausi Beach in Karachuonyo constituency have been displaced by floods, and their homes have been destroyed. The affected families were forced to seek refuge at their relatives’ homes on higher grounds, and some lost their household items which were swept away to Lake Victoria.
In addition, strong winds blew off two classrooms, an office, and a teacher’s house at Kibaga Primary School within the same ward. The school’s headteacher, Stephen Obel, disclosed that learning materials, including books and laptops, were also damaged. He has called upon the area leaders and well-wishers to come to their aid.
