The Kenya government has issued orders for individuals residing close to 178 dams and reservoirs to evacuate in light of the persistent heavy rains.
The country’s interior ministry warned that the water bodies “have filled up or are nearly filled up and may spill over any time, posing a high risk to persons living in their neighborhood”.
The Kenya flood started on the 18th of April 2024 and it has affected people in 21 of the 47 countries.
Fintech Telex gathered that the flood was caused by one of the biggest drivers of heavy rain in East Africa which is the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).
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During a positive phase, the waters in the western Indian Ocean are much warmer than normal and this can bring heavier rain regardless of El Niño. However, when both a positive IOD and an El Niño occur at the same time then the rains in East Africa can become extreme.
The capital city of Nairobi and surrounding areas were particularly affected. The Nairobi River and the Athi River both burst their banks displacing 40,000 people.
Some 210 people have died in Kenya since March, with a further 90 missing, according to the latest official estimates. A further 155 people have died in Tanzania and 29 in Burundi.
At least 50 people are thought to have died when a mudslide tore through Kenyan villages near Mai Mahiu while they slept.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid also reported at least 960 livestock and 24 thousand acres of farmland were flooded.
Officials anticipate that the situation will deteriorate in the upcoming days as more severe weather is expected to arrive.
Kenyan President To Address The Nation
President William Ruto is due to address the nation shortly and is expected to provide additional information.
“Crucially, the coastal region is likely to experience Cyclone Hidaya, which will result in heavy rainfall, large waves, and strong winds that could affect marine activities in the Indian Ocean,” the president’s office said on Thursday.
The Kenyan meteorological department said Nairobi is expected to be among the areas worst affected by the storm, however, it also said that the cyclone would not hit Kenya directly.
The interior ministry said the situation “could get dire because the soils around the country are fully saturated” with water.
The ministry stated that temporary shelters, food, and essential supplies have been set up for evacuees, to be located at designated assembly points.
Included in the evacuation are regions surrounding the Nairobi Dam and Titanic Dam. Structures within the Nairobi River wetland area will be demolished, as per the interior ministry’s announcement.
The number of individuals impacted by the evacuation order remains uncertain.
The response time of the Kenyan government to the ongoing natural disaster has been subject to criticism.
Although President Ruto has said the government would procure land for those who have had to leave their homes, some displaced people are still stranded after their homes were swept away.
The government is yet to release any detail on the evacuation plans, or how people will be notified.
UN Chief Says UN Is Ready To Offer Additional Assistance To Kenya
Speaking from New York on Thursday (May 2nd), a spokesperson for the United Nations’ chief, Antonio Guterres, reiterated the UN’s readiness to provide additional support to national authorities.
Stéphane Dujarrik also extended Antonio Guterres’ condolences to those affected.
“The Secretary-General’s expressed his deep distress at the news of the hundreds of lives lost and many others affected by the heavy flooding in Burundi, in Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania, as well as other parts of East Africa,” Dujarrik told reporters.
“The United Nations and its partners are working closely with national authorities to address humanitarian requirements. The Secretary-General stresses that the United Nations stands ready to offer any additional assistance that may be needed during this difficult period. The Secretary-General is extremely concerned about the impacts of El Niño-triggered extreme weather, which risk further devastating communities and undermining livelihoods.”
