In Mudende village, in Bunyala, Busia County, life has taken a perilous turn. Floodwaters, spurred by relentless rains, have inundated homes, leaving families in fear for their lives.
However, it's not just the rising waters they must contend with; a new threat has slithered into their midst – snakes.
Residents, like Florence Akinyi, recount harrowing encounters with these unwelcome visitors. Black mambas, green mambas, cobras – a veritable menagerie of serpents now prowls the flooded landscape. "We live by the grace of God," says Akinyi, echoing the sentiments of her neighbors.
Despite calls to evacuate to higher ground, some families, including Akinyi's, remain steadfast, guarding their homes against not just floods but also the scourge of theft.
Abandoned houses become easy targets for nocturnal thieves, leaving residents with little choice but to brave the dangers lurking outside.
Oscar Wambia, a resident of nearby Mudambi village, expresses shock at the unprecedented flooding, which has submerged farms, homes, and even the local police post.
With access to essential services cut off, concerns mount over the impending reopening of schools, leaving children stranded and education in limbo.
Charles Okumu's plight epitomizes the village's struggle for stability. Having lost two homes to previous floods, he now faces the daunting task of rebuilding yet again.
His hope rests on a new house built on higher ground, but with savings depleted, the prospect of another setback looms large.
The toll of the disaster is staggering – 786 families displaced, livelihoods shattered, and futures uncertain. In the face of such adversity, calls for government intervention grow louder.
Residents demand the construction of dykes along the Nzoia River, a lifeline now turned foe, to mitigate the losses and safeguard against future calamities.