In Pictures

In Pictures: Thousands homeless as floods, landslides hit Kenya

More than 1,800 families have been left without shelter as heavy rainfall triggers flooding in parts of western Kenya.

A man takes a photograph of a flooded village after River Nzoia burst its banks and due to the backflow from Lake Victoria, in Nyadorera, Siaya County, Kenya May 2, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya — This village in Siaya county flooded after the Nzoia River burst its banks. [Thomas Mukoya/Reuters]

More than 1,800 families in western Kenya have been rendered homeless after the River Nzoia burst its banks, according to the Kenya Red Cross.

In the Buyuku village of Budalangi, residents loaded their belongings on boats to get them away from submerged homes.

“It’s been flooding for three days now,” said Vincent Ochieng, one of the residents affected by the floods. “I think the government is not even aware, but now we are telling them. We are asking them if there are any plans to assist us, only two boats are here for evacuating people.”

Heavy rainfall in recent days has led to flooding and landslides across the region.

On April 30, Eugene Wamalwa, cabinet secretary of the Ministry of Devolution, told Citizen TV Kenya that 116 people had died in the country due to the flooding across 29 counties.

Residents carry their belongings as they evacuate from their home after River Nzoia burst its banks and due to the backflow from Lake Victoria, in Nyadorera, Siaya County, Kenya May 2, 2020. REUTERS/T — Residents wade through waist-high water with their belongings held high as they evacuate from their homes in Nyadorera. [Thomas Mukoya/Reuters]

A woman stands in food waters next to a shop, after after River Nzoia burst its banks and due to the backflow from Lake Victoria ,in Buyuku village of Budalangi, in Busia County, Kenya May 2, 2020. RE — A woman stands in floodwaters next to a shop in Buyuku village of Budalangi, in Busia county. [Thomas Mukoya/Reuters]

Residents use a boat to evacuate with their animals from the flood waters after River Nzoia burst its banks and due to the backflow from Lake Victoria, in Buyuku village of Budalangi, in Busia County, — Residents piled into boats with whatever they could rescue, including animals, to escape the floodwaters in Buyuku. [Thomas Mukoya/Reuters]

A trader sits at his shop as he looks at the food waters, after River Nzoia burst its banks and due to the backflow from Lake Victoria, in Buyuku village of Budalangi, in Busia County, Kenya May 2, 20 — The heavy downpours have led to flooding and landslides in many parts of Kenya. [Thomas Mukoya/Reuters]

A trader, after securing the main entrance, walks from her premises after the River Nzoia burst its banks due to a backflow from Lake Victoria, in Nyadorera, Siaya County, Kenya May 2, 2020. REUTERS/T — "Our things have been spoiled in here, for example the fridge, deep freezer and the cookers. Cooking pots have been swept away by the water and we are doomed," said Maureen Atieno, as she secured the doors of her restaurant, now submerged in floodwaters. [Thomas Mukoya/Reuters]

Residents set up makeshift shelter on a raised ground after they evacuated from their homes after River Nzoia burst its banks and due to the backflow from Lake Victoria, in Nyadorera, Siaya County, Ke — Recent floods have killed at least 116 people across 29 counties, according to the authorities. [Thomas Mukoya/Reuters]