This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
Heavy rainfall and poor drainage systems have led to devastating floods in Kenya, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. According to recent reports, 13 counties have been severely affected, with the urban areas being particularly hard hit.
Since the onset of the March-May long rains, flash floods have become a regular occurrence, resulting in 29 deaths, 11,700 people displaced, and over 10,000 livestock lost. The economic impact is also significant, with the government facing millions of shillings in reconstruction and recovery costs.
Cholera is one of the main diseases associated with flooding in eastern and southern Africa. In 2019, the World Health Organization reported outbreaks in 21 countries, with Kenya accounting for 35% of the cases.
So, what can be done to mitigate the effects of floods? The key lies in social preparedness, which involves knowledge and capacities of different stakeholders to anticipate, prepare themselves, and respond to imminent flood risks.
Community-based early warning systems can play a crucial role in reducing flood risk. These systems must be participatory, involving community members in risk assessments, monitoring, and warning dissemination. By engaging vulnerable communities and groups, we can identify and design solutions to minimize flood risk and increase preparedness and resilience.
It's time to shift from a reactive to a proactive approach in dealing with flood disasters. Local communities need to be linked to platforms that provide daily line messages and information about rainfall and flooding. By doing so, we can empower communities to take control of their own disaster preparedness and response.
Mock drills and simulation exercises must be carried out before the onset of heavy rains to ensure that communities are prepared. Additionally, communities need to be trained and provided with toolkits to tackle floods. A promotional calendar containing success stories and timelines for conducting simulation and training exercises should be developed and shared with the communities.
Finally, communities need additional investment to mainstream disaster risk reduction into development practices, plans, and policies at the grassroots level. By working together, we can reduce the impact of floods and create a safer, more resilient Kenya.
