Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

Following the aftermath of floods caused by heavy rains in various parts of Kenya where hundreds of families have lost significant material property, some displaced, others have lost their loved ones, while roads are destroyed, a Franciscan congregation of nuns based in Kenya’s Kisumu Archdiocese has offered humanitarian aid to alleviate the pain of the vulnerable in Western part of the Nation.

“We appreciate the media which televised flood affected areas and we could see how people were displaced, how they were cold, how some were dirty and also hungry in need of something to eat,” Sr. Miriam Jacinta Jagogo, one of the Regional Superiors of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Anna (FSSA) told AMECEA Online in an interview Thursday, April 30 and disclosed, “this made us feel with the affected victims and find ways on how we could be of help to them.”

In this regard, “we requested the sisters to spare whatever they have from their various communities, so that we pool together and share with those who need our help, and this is exactly what happened,” Sr. Jagogo who was in the team who visited Nyando Sub-county, Kisumu, stated adding that some communities requested for more help from their friends and neighboring families where they got positive response. 

 During the intervention, the religious nuns managed to visit two evacuation centers and reached out to over 200 families where they issued food stuffs, cloths, sanitary towels, grains and other items.

“Actually, we did not know that we may visit two evacuation centers, but yes, we saw the need and did our best. But the situation was quite bad in one of the evacuation centers. We couldn’t wade through the water to reach the people where they stay and so we had to distribute the items from the road,” Sr. Jagogo added.

The heavy rains pounding many parts of the country began in the month of March amid the threats of COVID-19 making it difficult for the flood victims to observe the safety measures including social distance, wearing of masks, and sanitization of hands among others meant to stem the spread of Coronavirus.

“Right now it may not be easy for the people to observe Coronavirus guidelines. What they really need most is food, and life is just survival. The reality is that, for them it is difficult to follow those measures,” Sr. Jagogo noted.

“Being that we are the people on the ground, I went with my team to support the noble work of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Anna,” Fr. Samuel Nyattaya the Director Caritas Office, Kisumu told AMECEA Online in an interview and continued, “we will join them as they proceed to Siaya County, Nyadorera, to help our people who have also been affected by floods. The Sisters have done a great job.”

Sr. Mathilde Anyango Omondi another Regional Superior of the FSSA who was in the distribution team, appreciated Caritas Kisumu saying “Fr. Nyattaya helped us a lot. He was able to organize for us how to reach these flood victims through the Small Christian Communities together with the chief, the sub-chief and the Church leaders that is the Parish Priests. That was very good of him.”

“We also managed to share some few things with our priests since we know that right now Churches have been closed and there is very little they are receiving from the Christians,” Sr. Omondi disclosed adding that the government rarely reach some evacuation centers because of bad roads.

The FSSA sisters who were joined by the team from Caritas Kisumu also participate in the launch of COVID-19 emergency response team dubbed as the Basket of Solidarity conducted on Friday, May 1, by Archbishop Philip Arnold Anyolo of Kisumu Archdiocese.

Sr. Omondi on-behalf of the congregation shared the FSSA’s contribution and said, “We are in solidarity with his Grace and the whole diocese over the plight that we are facing.” The FSSA Congregation will then proceed to other evacuation centers in Siaya County, Saturday, May 2, for distribution of items to those affected by floods in that area.

The religious nuns urged the government to be supportive, to visit those affected by the catastrophe and know their needs and give urgent support especially on how to find basic needs.  

“I urge the local authority and the government to walk into this place and see how these people are struggling to survive. As a congregation, we gave something little and this is just once, the government should consider this an urgent need and act appropriately especially in the provision of food which they cannot really afford,” Sr. Jagogo appealed.

She added, “Besides, another great challenge is that the displaced persons can easily contract malaria, pneumonia and other water borne diseases since they literally walk on water and some of them walk bare foot. Let the government direct their efforts towards relieving the plight of our people affected by floods.”