Flooding and heavy rains in Kenya have caused at least 70 deaths since mid-March, with more than 120,000 people displaced. The government has proposed 3.3 billion Kenyan shillings for emergency response efforts, including repairing infrastructure and providing food assistance. Sixty-four schools in Nairobi have been affected by the flooding, but Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has assured that they will reopen as scheduled after the mid-term holidays.
Neighbouring countries in East Africa have also been impacted by severe weather, with at least 155 people killed in flooding and landslides in Tanzania. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa reported that over 200,000 people have been affected by the disaster, with widespread damage to homes, property, crops, and infrastructure. In Burundi, approximately 96,000 people have been displaced due to continuous heavy rains, according to the United Nations.
In Somalia, the seasonal Gu rains have intensified, leading to flash floods and displacing more than 800 people nationwide. The UN’s humanitarian agency has reported four deaths in Somalia as a result of the floods. Ugandans have also experienced heavy storms that have caused riverbanks to burst, resulting in two fatalities and several hundred villagers being displaced. These events come after more than 300 people died in torrential rains and floods in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia late last year.
The flooding in East Africa has been worsened by the El Nino weather pattern, which can cause both drought and heavy rains in different parts of the world. Kenyans have been warned to remain vigilant as more heavy rains are forecasted across the country, further complicating the situation. The government is working on emergency response efforts to address the damage caused by the flooding, including repairing infrastructure and providing food assistance to those affected.
With the region highly vulnerable to climate change, countries in East Africa are facing challenges in dealing with the destructive impact of severe weather events. The government in Kenya has reported 70 deaths due to flooding and heavy rains, with thousands of people displaced and in need of assistance. The situation is further exacerbated by the El Nino weather pattern, which has caused widespread destruction in neighbouring countries like Tanzania, Burundi, and Somalia. Humanitarian agencies are working to provide aid and support to those affected by the floods and landslides across the region.
