The death toll from continuous rainfall and subsequent floods in Kenya has nearly doubled, reaching a count of at least 120 lives lost, as announced by Interior Minister Raymond Omollo on Tuesday. The disaster has led to nearly 90,000 households displaced, seeking refuge in approximately 120 makeshift camps.
The unrelenting rain and flash floods are attributed to the El Nino weather phenomenon, exacerbating the challenges faced by a region already grappling with severe drought.
Kenya’s meteorological agency forecasts the persistence of heavy rains until January 2024.
In response to the crisis, Kenyan President William Ruto has pledged financial support for the affected areas, acknowledging the substantial impact on lives, infrastructure, and property. Ruto’s office cited the adverse effects of El Nino-triggered precipitation, including disease outbreaks and prolonged power outages across Kenya and the wider eastern Africa region.
Aid agencies report significant damage, with numerous homes washed away or isolated and extensive farmland submerged. The floods have also resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of livestock. The situation is particularly severe in four eastern Kenyan counties — Tana River, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera.
Omollo cautioned about the imminent risks, highlighting the monitoring of major dams, with the Kiambere Hydroelectric Power Station in Tana River at a precarious level of capacity. He urged residents downstream to relocate to higher ground while the government ramps up efforts to enhance power generation to alleviate the crisis.
Meanwhile, neighboring Somalia and Ethiopia are also contending with flash floods resulting from El Nino’s heavy rains. In Somalia, 96 lives have been lost, and 700,000 individuals have been displaced, according to Kenya’s government.
The Horn of Africa, being particularly susceptible to climate change and extreme weather patterns due to global warming, underscores the urgent need for attention and action on environmental issues. Ruto emphasized Africa’s vulnerability to environmental changes in an address to the European Parliament preceding the UN’s COP28 climate summit in Dubai.