No Place to Hide as Rains Pound Kenya, Tougher Days Ahead

Heavy rains have caused widespread flooding throughout Kenya, displacing families, destroying crops, and causing infrastructure damage.

In Machakos County, residents of Phase Two estate in Syokimau have been grappling with floodwaters reaching knee-height for the past three days. The sewage system has been blocked, contaminating water in underground storage tanks. The situation is even worse in Maxim where long-time resident Marcella Mbithe reports that her house has been submerged since last Friday. Ms Mbithe blames the flooding on unregulated construction that has not considered proper drainage. Schools have not been spared either, with Little Bees Kindergarten and Primary School currently underwater.

The overflowing Masinga Dam, the country’s largest reservoir for power generation, has caused significant losses for farmers in Embu County who planted crops near the dam. The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned Kenyans to brace for more heavy rainfall. This raises concerns about potential waterborne illnesses like the one that has already emerged in some areas of Turkana County due to the overflowing Lake Turkana. Hundreds of families in Turkana have been displaced by the floods and are in urgent need of assistance. The situation is dire in other parts of the country as well. In the North Rift region, over 400 families have been displaced and vital infrastructure has been damaged by flash floods.

Residents near Lake Turkana are facing hardship as rising waters have submerged their homes, fishing equipment, and jeopardized their livelihoods. The overflowing Muthiga Dam in Nyandarua County poses a serious threat to nearby residents while a crucial road connecting the counties of Nyandarua and Laikipia has been damaged by floodwaters. In Kiambu County, heavy rains have caused the Ewaso Nyiro River to overflow, endangering lives in low-lying areas. Sadly, one person has lost his life and several others have been injured due to flooding in Ruaka.

Kiambu Governor Wamatangi has urged residents in affected areas to evacuate their homes until safety inspections can be conducted. In Nairobi, authorities are dismantling illegally built structures on riparian land along the Ngong River. In Machakos County, the Kenya Red Cross Society is providing essential supplies to displaced families. County governments and the Kenya Red Cross are working together to establish contingency teams in areas at risk of flooding. The persistent rainfall is expected to continue until June. maintenance.