Residents of Mororo, Bakuyu, Ziwani, Deri and Mathengeni villages in Garissa and Tana River counties are being urged to move to safer areas as disaster preparedness efforts intensify. The Kenya Meteorological Department and the World Meteorological Organization have projected that an El Niño event will bring heavy rains to the region. Helping Hand for Relief and Development is conducting disaster preparedness training to help communities prepare for the floods.
The training, which was conducted in Deri village, aims to sensitize communities and prepare them for the floods. Yussuf Ibrahim, head of programmes at Helping Hand for Relief and Development, said early preparation was critical to protecting lives and property in communities repeatedly affected by flooding. He warned that another round of floods could displace hundreds of residents, destroy property and disrupt livelihoods.
The history of evacuations along the Tana River basin demonstrates the need for communities to take warnings seriously and move before floodwaters cut off escape routes. From 1997 to 2024, these communities have been evacuated several times. Helping Hand for Relief and Development has done hazard mapping in the area, which is one of the most affected in Tana River county.
The organization plans to provide non-food items, relief food, tents and cooking utensils to support households relocating to safer areas. However, Ibrahim said emergency assistance and repeated evacuations would not end the cycle of displacement without a lasting solution. He appealed to development partners and the government to relocate the community from the flood-prone area to a permanent place.
Residents who have experienced previous floods said they had suffered greatly, especially women, children, older people and persons with disabilities. Zahara Asha Abdalla, a resident of Deri village, said delayed decisions had left families exposed to rising water. However, she said the training had helped residents understand the importance of preparing early and sharing warnings with neighbours.
Juma Wario, a resident of Ziwani, said families had endured years of displacement along the river and needed to move early to prevent avoidable deaths and losses. Mororo chief Abdalla Ali urged residents to heed early warnings issued by government agencies, cautioning that ignoring evacuation instructions could put lives and property at risk.
The challenge remains finding a permanent solution for families living in areas repeatedly threatened by flooding. With at least 700 people expected to relocate ahead of the rains, national and county governments face renewed pressure to provide safer settlements and strengthen long-term flood management.
Key points
- 700 people expected to relocate ahead of El Nino rains in Tana River
- El Niño event projected to bring heavy rains to the region
- Lasting solution required to end cycle of displacement for flood-prone communities
