Family cries over flash floods due to surface run off

A family in Kabarnet, Bondeni area now lives in fear after their houses were almost swept away by the raging water as a result of heavy downpour in the area that lasted for three hours due to the ongoing El Niño rains.
Lesile Lengeiya who has lived in the place since 1996 said he has never experienced massive flowing water sweep his farm to a point of sinking his pit latrine.
"When I saw the amount and speed at which the water was flowing towards my estate, I realized our lives were in danger," Lengeiya said.
Residents in the area claim that the water sweeping their homes since the commencement of the rains flowing from all town sewages were directed to the area making a stream of dirty water hence bursting the dug pathways to people's households.
Confirming the incident yesterday, Baringo County Executive Committee Edwin Riamangura said the effects of elnino are now real and are being experienced in the whole county and that the county government will take the necessary measures to minimize the damages.
"We have witnessed the way people have lost their property and the erosion caused by the rushing water which have swept people's homes making them flee houses at night," Riamangura added
Meanwhile, as we seek solution to this menace, people should relocate to safer places lest we lose lives in the process as some of the measures such as construction of permanent bridges and drainage systems are improper at the moment, Riamangura noted.
Lengeiya said since they live adjacent to Bondeni Stadium, the water which used to flow through the stadium to its lower side have now been diverted towards his farm after sweeping its walls an act that has cost his property.
“Rental charges have been my major source of income and now have been cut off as tenants are leaving the rented rooms for their safety,” said Lengeiya.
Lengeiya told KNA that the sank toilet which was the second to be constructed eight years ago since his settlement in the area was filled by water till it overflowed despite having a depth of 20 feet.
"The toilet was not yet filled up but we were forced to seek help from a neighbour before we constructed a make shift," Lengeiya reiterated.
Lengeiya now calls for any assistance from the government saying the torrent is not only a threat to his family but to the entire surrounding environs as the water end up flowing into a stream nearby increasing the risk of water borne diseases.
Elizabeth Lengeiya, Lesiles' wife said she was alerted by the smell of sewage water and children calling for help saying the floods had flashed into the house nearly sweeping it, she immediately informed the husband of the impending disaster who in turn acted quickly to stop the water.
"I told the children to stay calm inside the house as everything was in control, suddenly a terrifying sound was heard like that of a train, I thought my husband was hit by a car only to realize that our toilet had submerged something that worried me before confirming that nobody was trapped inside,” she explained.
Nevertheless, the residents took the blame to the county government for negligence to the area as preparation on water drainage in the area were not carried out on time despite the early warnings of the impending elnino rains.
However, chairman Kenya Red Cross Baringo branch said the latrine had no proper strength to sustain it from the floods and urged the family to move to raised places if possible and promised to donate a mobile toilet and plastic shoes to them.
"People should get prepared for elnino and take it seriously as it will take long and is unpredictable but need alertness and early precautions," Kemboi added.