FROM RAIN TO RUIN, KENYA’S FLOODS CRISIS OF 202

In recent months, Kenya has been overwhelmed by severe flooding due to relentless heavy rains, leading to significant loss of life, displacement of communities, and widespread infrastructural damage.

The floods have wreaked havoc on Kenya’s infrastructure.  A dam burst in Kijabe led to the deaths of at least 40 people in the Mai Mahiu area.  Major transportation routes, including the Nakuru-Eldoret road and the Kapenguria-Lokichar-Lodwar highway, have been destroyed, disrupting trade and mobility.  Rail services between Nairobi and Mombasa were suspended due to landslides.

In areas such as Naivasha, Mathare, Kibera, and parts of the Rift Valley, displaced families are now relying on temporary shelters where food is either scarce or unavailable. Many of these people were already living in vulnerable conditions before the floods, and the disaster has only deepened their struggles.

Health concerns are mounting, with reports of 53 cholera cases and other waterborne diseases emerging in the aftermath of the floods. People are really suffering due to the floods.The floods have displaced hundreds of thousands of individuals throughout Kenya.  In Naivasha, over 5,000 residents were forced to evacuate due to rising water levels in Lake Naivasha, which inundated homes and compromised sanitation facilities.

Many have lost their homes and loved ones leading to increased cases of  trauma and mental health issues.Efforts are being made to provide psychosocial support to help affected individuals cope with the aftermath of the disaster.

However, the scale of the disaster has overwhelmed existing resources, highlighting the need for increased support from both national and international stakeholders.  There is a pressing need for comprehensive strategies that address not only immediate relief but also long-term resilience and adaptation to climate-related disasters.

There is an immediate and critical need for the government to step in and provide emergency food aid to these affected populations. Supplying essentials like maize flour, rice, beans, and cooking oil can prevent hunger, malnutrition, and further suffering, especially among children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Food assistance also helps stabilize these communities, giving them the strength to cope with the trauma of displacement and begin the long road to recovery. This is not just a call for aid , it is a call for survival.

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BY: FALARY MUTETHYA

John

The author is an experienced radio journalist and media manager.