Kenya: Floods - Apr 2024

The last week of March marked the start of the long rains season (March to May) characterized by isolated heavy storms that caused heavy rainfall and flash floods in several parts of the country. At least 13 people died, nearly 3,000 households displaced, over 339 livestock killed, and unknown acres of croplands lost due to flooding in the country, according to initial reports. Areas of particular concern include Marsabit, Turkana, Tana River, Garissa, Kirinyaga, Muranga, Kiambu, Meru, Kisumu, Nairobi and Kitui counties. Humanitarian partners moved emergency shelter and non-food items to regions at risk of flooding while working with authorities to assess the needs alongside scaling up response to affected communities. Authorities issued advisories on the continuation of heavy rainfall in most parts of the country from 9 – 15 April. (OCHA, 11 Apr 2024)

The number of people impacted by the March-May long rains continued to rise, with an estimated 103,485 people (20, 697 households) affected including 40,265 people (8,053 households) displaced; 32 deaths, and 15 injured across the country as of 18 April, according to the Kenya Red Cross Society. The heavy rains causing floods have also resulted in loss of livelihoods, including livestock, cropland, and destruction of small businesses. Damage to schools, water sources, and major roads was also reported. (OCHA, 19 Apr 2024)

Heavy rains and flash floods left more than 103 people dead, 29 injured, 21 people missing, 150,365 people (30,073 families) displaced and nearly 191,000 affected across the country as of 28 April, according to the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC). A dam burst in the morning of 29 April in the southern town of Mai Mahiu in Nakuru County, reportedly killing dozens of people and affecting scores of others as Kenya experiences El Nino-induced above-average rains. Search and rescue operations by the authorities are ongoing. As of 24 April, over 4,824 livestock were lost, 27,717 acres of croplands damaged, 264 small businesses and 24 schools affected. (OCHA, 29 Apr 2024)

Heavy rainfall continued to affect most of Kenya since the beginning of March (the long rainy season lasts from March to May), causing rivers overflow (particularly the Tana and the Mara rivers), floods, flash floods and triggering landslides that esulted in additional casualties and severe damage. The Kenya Red Cross reported, as of 1 May, 166 fatalities, 132 missing people, 23,511 displaced households (approximately 117,555 individuals) and 43,888 affected households (approximately 219,440 individuals). (ECHO, 2 May 2024)

Heavy rainfall affected 38 of the 47 counties in Kenya (i.e 80% of the country), causing floods, triggering landslides and resulting in an increasing number of casualties and damage. Tropical Cyclone HIDAYA was expected to bring further heavy rainfall to the coastal areas of Kenya. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of 3 May, at least 210 people died, 164 were injured and 72 missing. In addition, more than 205,000 people were affected and 194,305 displaced. At least 52 people died because of the mudslide that occurred in Mai Mahiu on 29 April. Search and rescue operations were conducted in Nakuru, Nairobi, Kirinyaga, Homa Bay and Tana River. According to the Ministry of Health, the heavy rainfall and consequent floods also led to a fourth cholera outbreak. (ECHO, 6 May 2024)

An estimated 267 people had been killed, 188 injured, 75 missing, while 281,835 people (56,367 families) were displaced and almost 380,573 (76,114 families) affected by persistent heavy rains and flooding as of 9 May, according to the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC). At least 9,973 livestock had been lost, 41,562 acres of cropland and 61 roads damaged, 886 businesses, 1,967 schools, 1,465 water sources and 62 health facilities damaged in 11 out of 42 counties affected by floods as of 9 May, according to authorities and the Kenya Red Cross Society. (OCHA, 10 May 2024)

An estimated 291 people had been killed, 188 injured, and 75 missing, while 278,380 people (55,676 families) had been displaced and almost 412,763 (82,552 families) affected by heavy rains and floods between 1 March and 16 May 2024, according to the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC). At least 11,311 livestock had been lost, 47,578 acres of croplands and 67 roads damaged, 1,023 small businesses and 129 schools had also been affected as of 15 May, according to the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS). A total of 178 displacement sites were active, accommodating 71,704 people, according to the KRCS as of 17 May. The search and rescue operations were ongoing, including in Narok, West Pokot, Nyeri, Siaya and Kirinyaga counties. (OCHA, 17 May 2024)

An estimated 315 people have been killed, 188 injured, and 38 missing, while more than 293,200 people (58,641 families) have been displaced and nearly 306,520 (61,304 families) have been affected by heavy rains and floods between 1 March and 18 June 2024, according to the NDOC. The March-April-May (MAM) 2024 rainfall has ceased over most parts of the country. (OCHA, 19 Jun 2024)