Attachments
SITUATION ANALYSIS
Description of the crisis
Communities in Kenya are once again facing heavy rains and devasting floods. The above-average rainfall during this March-April-May (MAM) long rains season has severely hit parts of the Lake Victoria Basin, Highlands West of the Rift Valley, Central, Northern and Southern Rift Valley, Highlands East of the Rift Valley (including Nairobi County), Northeastern, Southeastern Lowlands, and Northwestern regions. The excessive rains already cause havoc in the country where several lives were lost across the country as people tried to cross flooded rivers. People also died and sustained injuries after they were carried away by floods and struck by lightning while sheltering under trees. Properties including homes, schools and business were destroyed in different counties especially for areas receiving above average rainfall.
Thousands of families were also destroyed with county of Tana River having the highest displacement and the highest numbers of camps. There were also cases of landslides and mudslides in central affecting both families with even young children. Kenyan officials and humanitarian agencies have called on the population to avoid flooded areas, move to higher ground and avoid driving when it rains heavily.
The floods are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country just as it emerges from the El Nino floods which occurred late 2023 when at least 178 people lost their lives, 242 were injured and thousands displaced. Thirty-eight counties out of the 47 in the country were affected by a dangerous combination of riverine floods, flash floods, and landslides. Destroyed infrastructure, health and educational services and facilities. Communities reported significant loss of livestock, crops and small businesses leading to loss of livelihood. Some families still remain in camps and have not yet been able to recover.
The 2023 floods followed by the 2024 floods, are worsening an already critical humanitarian situation in Kenya, where parts of the country are just beginning to recover from the worst drought in four decades. This prolonged drought left millions facing hunger, and the combination of low or nonexistent incomes, high commodity prices, and devastated livelihoods after five consecutive failed rainy seasons continues to drive severe food insecurity. The alternating cycles of drought and floods highlight the profound climate change challenges that Kenya, along with other countries in the Horn of Africa, is struggling to address.
Description of the crisis
El Niño hit Kenya enhanced heavy rains from October 2023 which continued into 2024. The country experienced a March to May rainy season which was well above the normal seasonal average for this season of year.
Communities in Kenya are once again facing heavy rains and devasting floods. The above-average rainfall has severely hit all parts of the Lake Victoria Basin, Highlands West of the Rift Valley, Central, Northern and Southern Rift Valley, Highlands East of the Rift Valley (including Nairobi County), North-Eastern, Lower Eastern, and Upper Eastern regions. The President of Kenya addressed the nation, and among other measures, specifically requested that humanitarian organizations mobilize adequate food and household supplies.
The peak was realized in the 2nd week of April 2024 and continued into the 3rd week of May 2024. On 3rd May 2024, adverse impacts from the rains were documented in 45 out of the 47 Counties and were degenerated into a humanitarian crisis. 478 people lost their lives as a result, 238,763 households (1,432,578 people) affected with over 117,336 households (704,016 people) displaced across the country.
The MAM rainfall also had a negative impact on food security and livelihoods of the people including destruction of businesses, loss of livestock, and destruction of acreage of crops. On livelihood, 28,859 livestock died and 92,256 acres of farmland was destroyed. Moreover, a total of 104 Health Facilities were affected, 162 roads were cut off, 180 schools affected, and 1,012 water sources destroyed. Unfortunately, most of the affected counties were the same counties that were severely impacted by the 2021-2023 drought. Compounded by the flooding in 2024, the communities faced further delays in the recovery from livelihood losses resulting from floods.
Before the October-to-December rains, the region experienced five consecutive seasons of below-average rainfall from 2020 to 2022, resulting in a severe drought effect. This led to limited access to food and water, reduced agricultural output, and diminished livelihood opportunities, impairing the population's ability to cope with future shocks.
Kenya Red Cross, in collaboration with partners and National and County Government leadership, has been scaling up relief efforts for flood-affected populations, providing food and non-food items. Despite these efforts, significant gaps in emergency response and early recovery persist, preventing many households from meeting their basic needs due to the adverse effects and the large number of people at risk.
The needs range from access to food, clean and safe water, and basic medicines, especially during this high season for disease outbreaks like malaria due to standing water. Malnutrition is also a concern among vulnerable populations, including the sick, children under five, expectant and lactating women, and the elderly, due to food insecurity from the floods. As floodwaters recede, stagnant pools become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, leading to increased malaria transmission. To address these needs, a Revised Operations Strategy is being launched with a Federation-wide funding requirement of CHF 24 million. This will enable the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) to expand and scale up their lifesaving activities and emergency response to meet the needs arising from the most recent March to May floods.