Kenya: Flooding displaces over 211,000 across country since March /update 5

Event

As of Wednesday, April 25, heavy rainfall in Kenya had prompted flooding that has left some 72 people dead and 211,000 others displaced since the rainy season began in March. According to the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), among the counties most affected by the flooding are Turkana, Tana River, Garissa, Isiolo, Kisumu, Taita-Taveta, Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, West Pokot, Samburu, and Narok. Access to food, clean water, and sanitation has been severely limited by the flooding; damages to houses, roads, and health facilities have been recorded in affected areas.

On Friday, April 27, local media reported that Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel have been deployed to affected areas, notably to Kilifi county. Flooding had also restricted movement along roads in the Westlands area of Nairobi as of Friday morning (local time). According to the Kenya Meteorological Department, additional heavy rainfall (over 4 cm [1.5 in]) and flooding is expected in coastal regions of Kenya beginning on Saturday, April 28. Additional heavy rainfall is forecast along the coast from Monday, April 30, to Wednesday, May 2. Among the areas that may be most severely affected by the rainfall and potential flooding are Lamu, Kilifi, coastal areas of Tana River county, Mombasa, and Kwale.

Context

Kenya typically experiences a rainy season beginning in late April and lasting until early June. The rains arrived early this year (in March); meteorologists believe that this is the result of the Madden-Julian Oscillation, an eastward-moving low-pressure system that carries clouds and rain around tropical regions over a 30- to 60-day period.

Advice

Individuals present in affected areas are advised to keep abreast of the situation, avoid areas directly hit by flooding, and adhere to any orders issued by the local authorities (e.g. evacuation orders). Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded. Be aware that the risk of contracting water- and mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria, chikungunya, dengue fever, yellow fever, and the Zika virus, tends to rise after periods of heavy rains; take measures to protect yourself from mosquito bites (use insect repellent, mosquito nets, etc.) and only consume purified water.