Hope rises above the waters: Rebuilding lives after devastating floods in Western Kenya

Mitchell (right) playing with a friend at a playground in Katito, situated in Kisumu County, Kenya. World Vision supported her, among other children and families to overcome the devastating effects of floods that wreaked havoc on communities in the area. ©World Vision Photo/Peter Mwaura.

Friday, June 30, 2023

By Peter Mwaura, Communications Specialist, World Vision Kenya

Mitchell and her classmates are immersed in a spirited football game. Their bright faces are illuminated with joy.

This is a moment that the children treasure deeply, as their beloved playground had been rendered inaccessible for weeks, due to floods that wreaked havoc on their community.

"The floodwater took away our playground, and we were sad. We missed playing and being together. But now, we are so happy that the water has finally receded," Mitchell narrates with a beaming smile.

The playground which was covered in water a few months ago, is now green and providing an ample environment for the children to play in. — *The playground, which was previously covered with floodwater, is now filled with lush green grass that provides an ample environment for children to play in. ©World Vision Photo/Peter Mwaura.*

The heavy rains, characteristic of the region's long rainy season between April and May, unleashed devastating floods that uprooted thousands of families and forced them into temporary camps for shelter.

Children were also forced to stop learning as many schools in the area were either flooded with water or rendered inaccessible due to the rising water levels.

“The floods blocked the road that leads to our school. We had to use a small broken boat which was not safe. It was also frightening to encounter hippos, displaced from nearby Lake Victoria by the floodwaters, along our route," shares Mitchell.

Kisumu county is one of the most affected counties by floods. The floods are majorly caused by rivers overflowing into the plain lands. ©World Vision Photo/Peter Mwaura — *Michell's home in Katito, situated in Kisumu County, Kenya, was among the many that was affected by floods that wreaked havoc on communities in Western Kenya. ©World Vision Photo/Peter Mwaura.*

Through its disaster management programme, World Vision responded to the flooding emergency by providing vital support to affected families thus enabling them to cope effectively with the calamity.

The organisation distributed Non-Food Items (NFI) kits including tents, plastic sheeting, blankets, sleeping mats, cooking pots, mosquito nets, buckets, soap, jerry cans for clean water storage and sanitary towels to families displaced by the floods.

“I was devastated when the floods struck. My children were so shaken when they woke up and found our house covered with water. We were forced to migrate to temporary camps in unaffected areas, with nothing, since most of our belongings had been destroyed or swept away by the water,” says Michell’s mother.

She adds, “This was a difficult moment and I couldn’t bear to watch my children suffer. We were very happy to receive the essential items from World Vision among other well-wishers as they allowed us to survive and find comfort in the camp, while waiting for the waters to recede.”

Mitchell and her mother chat as they recall and narrate the condition that the floods had put them in a few months ago. They are seated on carpets that were donated by World Vision in partnership with the county government of Kisumu during disaster and emergency response. ©World Vision Photo/Peter Mwaura — Mitchell and her mother conversing while seated on mats that were provided by World Vision, among other essential items included in Non-Food Items (NFI) kits that enabled families displaced by floods to find comfort in temporary camps, while waiting for the waters to recede.©World Vision Photo/Peter Mwaura.

Aside from the NFI kits, World Vision also supported affected families with cash transfers that enabled them to get back on their feet and replace items destroyed by floods in their homes.

Mitchell’s mother used the cash to replenish chickens for her poultry farm that had been wiped away by the floodwater, yet they were a major source of income for the family.

She also purchased new clothes and school books for Mitchell as the older ones were soaked and destroyed by the flood water.

“I am so happy that the floods are now gone. We are back home and can now go to school without any problem. I can also read and do my homework using the new books that mum bought me,” says Michelle.

Mitchell helps her mother in washing the dishes as she watches her friends continue playing in the playground near her home. ©World Vision Photo/Peter Mwaura — Mitchell washing dishes at home . She is happy to be back home and to resume school, following the heavy floods that affected her community during the rainy season in Kenya. ©World Vision Photo/Peter Mwaura.

World Vision's swift response and holistic support have brought smiles back to the faces of flood-affected families in Western Kenya.

Through its disaster management programme, the organisation has not only provided essential items and financial assistance to these families, but also reinstated a sense of normalcy and optimism within the community.

As the floods cease, children are able to now go back to their normal lives with their playing routines reinstated. ©World Vision Photo/Peter Mwaura — *World Vision's timely response has brought smiles back to the faces of children and flood-affected families in Western Kenya. ©World Vision Photo/Peter Mwaura.*

The infectious smiles of Mitchell and other children stand as a testament to the indomitable spirit that triumphs over adversity. It is a reminder that compassion and timely assistance can bring about transformative change, even in the darkest of times.