Nairobi — Thousands of people have been displaced in Budalang'i after their houses were submerged when River Nzoia burst it banks and swept away a dyke.

The crisis hit the area on Tuesday evening, leaving thousands of those affected marooned.

Pit latrines were left overflowing with the flood waters, precipitating a likelihood of an outbreak of waterborne diseases.

The residents could not get clean water to drink and neither could they access lavatory facilities.

A woman gave birth in a nearby school, which was surrounded by the floods where she had taken cover.

Mrs Doris Nelima, 21, delivered a baby-girl inside a classroom at Makunda Primary School.

As she nursed her newborn, her husband, Mr Fredrick Ougo, searched for a boat to rescue his wife and their two other children.

An elderly and sickly woman was also among the thousands of residents who were evacuated to safer ground.

Mrs Celecentina Ogur, 87, was left by her relatives sleeping on her bed by the roadside as they went back to retrieve their household goods.

The residents have also lost food, in their stores and those not yet harvested.

The few boats available were used to row domestic animals and carry household goods from their submerged houses to safer grounds.

But even on higher ground, they did not have food to cook, no water to drink, no firewood and no blankets to cover them at night.

They have put up shanties by the remaining part of the southern dyke.

Area councilor, Mr Aggrey Ojiambo, said the area had been submerged affecting about 40,000 people.

"We appeal to well wishers and the Government to bail us out," he said.

Busia police boss, Mr Simon Kipkeu, said there were no casualties, adding that police officers had been dispatched to the area to guard the affected and their property.

Elsewhere, in West Ugenya and Usonga locations, Siaya District, raging floods have displaced 20 families after River Nzoia burst its banks.

On Wednesday, the floods drove people out of their homes in Gendro, Karamogi and Mudongo villages and destroyed hundreds of acres of crops.

Siaya DC, Mr Wilson Litole, said District Officers and the Kenya Red Cross personnel were yesterday dispatched to the flood-hit areas.