Around 1,000 residents of Kamnwa village in Kisumu remain displaced due to the ever-increasing water levels of Lake Victoria. The affected villagers accuse both the national and county governments of neglect, stating that their repeated cries for help have been ignored.
The situation is dire, with the entire area facing the threat of further displacement during the next rainy season. Any overflow from the Sondu Miriu River could spell disaster for thousands more.
Abandoned homes, flooded paths, and structures consumed by thick papyrus reeds give Kamnwa village in West Nyakach the appearance of a ghost town. The few residents who remain risk the collapse of their waterlogged homes. Florence Mbok, a local resident, explained, “I have moved seven times. Each time I build a house, the water comes and it falls apart. Now we live in fear of hippos outside our doors, which is dangerous and life-threatening.”
Another resident, Peres Awino, shared her plight: “I have no land left to farm, not even chickens can survive here. My goats and cows have all died.”
Even cemeteries haven’t been spared by the rising water. Only the graves that were cemented have withstood the damage. Residents have long pleaded with the authorities to construct gabions along a 15-kilometre stretch to prevent backflow from the lake, but their appeals have gone unanswered.
“Aduma, Nyong’o, Tom Ojienda, please come and help us. We are tired of relocating due to the water,” said Norah Obonyo. Another resident, Beatrice Atieno, echoed the sentiment: “I have never seen Governor Nyong’o with my own eyes. Aduma only came during the campaign season. Where are they now, when the water is killing us?”
As the waters of Lake Victoria continue to rise, more and more land in Kamnwa village is being abandoned. The displaced residents are desperately calling on the government to take action and restore their livelihoods.