Move to higher grounds ahead before El Nino, Tana River families urged

Residents of Bakuyu during disaster preparedness training /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

At least 700 people living along the flood-prone River Tana in Garissa and Tana River counties are expected to relocate to higher ground ahead of the October-November-December rains, as disaster preparedness efforts intensify.

Residents of Mororo, Bakuyu, Ziwani, Deri and Mathengeni villages were urged to heed early warnings during a disaster preparedness training conducted on Saturday by Helping Hand for Relief and Development.

Speaking during a public forum in Deri village, the organisation’s head of programmes, Yussuf Ibrahim, 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, making it necessary for families to identify safer locations before water levels rise.

“We are here to sensitise the communities and prepare them for the floods that have been projected by the Kenya Meteorological Department and the World Meteorological Organization as a result of the forthcoming El Niño. We want to build their capacity and prepare them using their own locally available resources,” Ibrahim said.

The training comes against the backdrop of repeated flooding along the Tana River basin, where rising water levels have forced residents to abandon their homes and seek temporary shelter on elevated ground.

Ibrahim said the history of evacuations demonstrated the need for communities to take warnings seriously and move before floodwaters cut off escape routes.

“If you look at the history, from 1997 to 2024 these communities have been evacuated several times from this area. We have done hazard mapping in this area, which is one of the most affected in Tana River county. This training is going to help them prepare well for the upcoming floods, and we look forward to saving more lives and property,” he said.

Helping Hand for Relief and Development plans to provide non-food items, relief food, tents and cooking utensils to support households relocating to safer areas.

But Ibrahim said emergency assistance and repeated evacuations would not end the cycle of displacement without a lasting solution.

“These communities are affected every year, and we appeal to all other development partners and the government to relocate this community from here to a permanent place where they will never face challenges of flooding again,” he said.

For residents, the prospect of another evacuation brings back memories of previous floods, when delayed decisions left families exposed to rising water.

Deri resident Zahara Asha Abdalla said women, children, older people and persons with disabilities often bore the greatest burden during such emergencies.

“For a long time, we have been suffering due to floods, especially women, children, the senior citizens and the people with disabilities. Sometimes, we delay moving to higher places until the floodwaters catch up with us,” she said.

Zahara said the training had helped residents understand the importance of preparing early and sharing warnings with neighbours.

“However, now we have been trained and informed on the importance of preparing early before floods start. We have also come to the villages to inform our fellow villagers on early disaster preparedness so that we all avoid being caught by floods,” she added.

Ziwani resident Juma Wario 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.

He said authorities would take action against residents who defied orders to move to higher ground, stressing the importance of compliance as communities prepared for the rainy season.

The training covered evacuation procedures, hazard mapping, risk identification, community communication structures, incident command centres and the development of local disaster management plans.

However, residents and development partners say lasting protection will require more than seasonal evacuations. With at least 700 people expected to move to safer ground, the challenge remains finding a permanent solution for families living in areas repeatedly threatened by flooding.

Repeated flooding along the River Tana exposes the vulnerability of communities forced to choose between abandoning their homes and risking their lives. While preparedness training and emergency supplies can reduce immediate losses, they cannot replace a lasting solution for families repeatedly displaced by rising waters. 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.

Yussuf Ibrahim, Head of programmes at the Helping Hand organization, speaking to the press./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Mororo chief, Abdalla Ali, speaking to the press. /STEPHEN ASTARIKOCollins