Storm and Hailstorm Devastate Osiri Village, Leaving Dozens Homeless

Kisumu, Kenya – Nearly 50 families in Osiri village, Kisumu West were displaced after a powerful storm accompanied by hailstones swept through the area, leaving a trail of destruction. The severe weather flattened mud-walled homes, tore roofs off permanent structures, and forced families to endure the night in the open.

A Night of Unprecedented Destruction

Residents described the storm as unlike anything they had witnessed before. According to survivors, the hailstones were so large and forceful that they shattered windows and damaged household property.

“We have never seen anything like this,” said Kephas Kasera, a villager who lost his home in the storm. “The winds and hailstones came suddenly and within minutes everything we had built was gone. Families were left out in the cold.”

Impact on Families

Local authorities estimate that close to 50 households were directly affected, with homes either completely flattened or severely damaged. Many of the houses in Osiri are mud-walled and iron-roofed, making them especially vulnerable to the force of the storm.

Children, the elderly, and women were among those left without shelter, with reports of families huddling under makeshift covers as they awaited help.

Call for Assistance

Residents are now appealing for emergency relief support, including shelter, food, and clothing. With schools set to reopen and many homes destroyed, families fear prolonged displacement if aid does not arrive quickly.

Community leaders have urged both the county government and humanitarian organisations to intervene. “Our people need immediate assistance—this is a disaster,” one local elder told reporters.

Climate Concerns

Meteorologists have in recent years warned of increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events across Kenya due to climate change. Kisumu County, situated near Lake Victoria, has been particularly prone to heavy rains, flooding, and storms.

The Osiri incident adds to a growing list of weather-related disasters in the region, fuelling concerns about inadequate preparedness and disaster response systems at the local level.

Conclusion

For families in Osiri village, the storm was both a humanitarian and economic blow, erasing years of effort in building homes and livelihoods. As they wait for help, their plight underscores the need for stronger climate resilience measures, improved housing standards, and robust disaster-response mechanisms in rural Kenya.