Heavy rains continue to pound several parts of the country. Amid this natural occurrence, residents of Daraja Mbili, Koyango, Sije and Auji in Manyatta B ward, Kisumu East Constituency are having it rough.
On most occasions, rain waters normally flow into their houses making them inhabitable as it has been the case over the last few days.
Roads become impassable with parents being forced to carry their kids to and from school whenever it rains.
The affected areas are swampy, which means any amount of rainfall leads to water overflowing into the informal settlements.
Residents blame all this on lack of an effective drainage system in the area. .
“The major problem here in Koyango is lack of a proper drainage system. We need a culvert here so that when water comes it can flow downwards. This will in turn prevent water from overflowing into our houses,” said George Ageng’o, a resident of Koyango.
“The County government should make sure the drainage system is okay. They should also open up the sewer line,” he added.
His sentiments are echoed by Judith Anyango, a resident of Daraja Mbili.
"Whenever it rains, water flows into our houses, it becomes a very big problem. The roads too become impassable to an extend that you have to take kids to school or they just remain in the house," she said.
The residents are now exposed to waterborne diseases since we have instances where the rain water mixes with the sewer lines.
According to residents, over 80 households are affected. They say that they live in informal settlements due to low income. One can rent a house in Daraja Mbili, Koyango, Sije and Auji for as little as Sh800 per month.
With seven years into devolution, no effort has been made to address the drainage challenge in the area.
They have urged Manyatta B Member of the County Assembly (MCA) Pamela Odhiambo, Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir and Kisumu County governor Anyang’ Nyong’o to urgently come to their aid.
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