Kenya: Heavy Rains and Flooding Update - Flash Update #5 (10 May 2024)

HIGHLIGHTS

• An estimated 267 people have been killed, 188 injured, 75 missing, while 281,835 people (56,367 families) have been displaced and almost 380,573 (76,114 families) have been affected by persistent heavy rains and flooding as of 9 May, according to the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC).

• At least 9,973 livestock have 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.

• All the 7-forks hydro-electric dams are full and overflowing, with risk of causing flooding and making roads impassable in Garissa, Tana River, Lamu counties as of 10 May.

• Ahead of schools reopening on 13 May, the Kenya Government announced one billion Kenyan shillings package (US$7.5 million) to rehabilitate schools affected by the floods.

• Search and rescue operations are ongoing in Nakuru, Nairobi, Machakos, Kirinyaga, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Narok, West Pokot, Nyeri, and Siaya counties.

• There is an urgent need to scale up response in the affected areas, including food, shelter and non-food items, healthcare, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions.

• Heavy rainfall is forecasted to persist, with a possibility of rainfall intensities decreasing, according to the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD).

SITUATION OVERVIEW & HUMANITARIAN IMPACTS

Heavy rains and floods continue to wreak havoc across Kenya, resulting in loss of lives, property, and service disruption. Transport, housing, education, health, and agriculture are the most affected sectors by the floods, according to the authorities. An estimated 267 people have been killed, 188 injured, 75 missing, while 281,835 people (56,367 families) have been displaced and 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 have been lost, 41,562 acres of croplands and 61 roads damaged, 886 businesses, 1,967 schools and 62 health facilities affected as of 9 May, according to the authorities and the KRCS. On 4 May, Tropical Cyclone Hidaya made its landfall in the Coastal regions accompanied by heavy rains and strong winds, thereby worsening the damage already caused by deadly floods in the country. Beach activities, including fishing, swimming, and non-essential movement along the Coastal region shoreline in Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi and Lamu counties were suspended until 6 May. Fishing at Turkwel Dam in Turkana County remains suspended through a notice issued by the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) as of 10 May. On 5 May, the Nyando River burst its bank submerging the entire Ahero township and disrupting movement on the Kisumu-Nairobi highway. Air and boat rescue operations were conducted, rescuing 22 people, and evacuating marooned residents from the affected areas. On 6 May, West Pokot, Nakuru, Kiambu, Nyeri, Machakos, Mandera, Embu, Meru, Laikipia, Isiolo, Bomet and Uasin Gishu counties also experienced heavy rains and flooding. In Kajiado County, the Entasopia Healthcare centre, a level 3 healthcare facility serving nearly 3,000 people from surrounding remote areas was damaged by flash floods.

In Nairobi County, on 7 May, a five-storey residential apartment in Uthiru area, collapsed, where 34 occupants were evacuated to safety and one person was injured, according to the authorities. In the Rift Valley Region, the situation continued to deteriorate due to persistent heavy rains, with an estimated 12,689 people affected and 8,478 displaced. The Rift Valley Region is the second worst hit after Nairobi County where an estimated 256,890 people have been affected and 21,678 people displaced. Risk communication and community engagement is underway, urging communities in high-risk areas to relocate to low-risk areas. Garissa, Tana River, and Lamu counties are also badly affected by heavy rains and flooding.

A nationwide assessment of all dams was conducted, with 192 dams identified to be high risk. All the Seven-forks hydro-electric dams remain full and overflowing into downstream areas, causing displacements, damaging homes, and major roads. The Seven-forks hydro-electric dams are situated along the lower part of the Tana River basin, which is among the areas worst-affected by riverine flooding. In Garissa County, an estimated 6,400 families (32,000 people) have been displaced due to the overflow of Tana River. The displaced are currently hosted in the 12 camps established by the KRCS. Authorities and partners are concerned about the health and nutritional situation of children in the county, with available data indicating that approximately 18.3 per cent of children are at risk of malnutrition. In Tana River County, 69,965 people were affected by the floods. In the Western Region, an estimated 43,380 people have been affected by floods caused by heavy rains, river flooding and Lake Victoria backflow. Continued heavy rains, flooding, water stagnation and the contamination of clean water sources is heightening the risk of water and vector-borne diseases. Four cases of cholera were reported on 8 May, bringing the number of cases to 48 (47 in Garsen West Ward and one in Garsen Central Ward). Enhanced surveillance for vector-borne diseases is ongoing by authorities and humanitarian partners across the 47 counties.

Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are forecasted to persist across the country, but the rainfall intensities are likely to reduce by 13 May. However, high soil moisture levels due to increased precipitation can lead to high risk of flooding even when the rains have reduced. Heavy rains are expected in some parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the South-eastern lowlands, Northwestern and North-eastern Kenya, according to the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD). Continued rainfall in the catchment areas of the Lake Victoria Basin, and the backflow from Lake Victoria, may cause flooding of the counties in the region, such as Homa Bay, Kisumu, Busia, Migori, and Siaya. Flooding is expected in low lying areas, riparian areas, and urban areas while landslides/mudslides may occur in steep slopes, escarpments, and riverine areas.