Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Dr Ahmed Idris has urged communities and government agencies to take precautionary measures ahead of the expected El Niño rains, saying no lives should be lost during the season.
Idris said the anticipated above-normal rainfall could trigger flooding, displacement, landslides, building collapses and disease outbreaks in different parts of the country.
Speaking to Citizen TV, the Kenya Red Cross chief said all stakeholders must work together to ensure that people affected by the rains are protected and displaced families have access to essential necessities.
“No lives should be lost,” Idris said, stressing the need for communities to take early action before the rains intensify.
He said the Kenya Red Cross was working with national and county governments, as well as other partners, to prepare for the expected risks and respond to emergencies.
Idris outlined three key measures that communities should take to reduce the impact of the rains.
In urban areas, he urged residents to support county governments in clearing blocked drainage systems and ensuring that water can flow freely.
“In urban areas, we need to support the county in clearing and opening drainage,” he said.
Blocked and poorly maintained drainage systems can worsen flooding, particularly in densely populated settlements and areas that are prone to waterlogging.
Idris also called on communities to take early warning messages seriously.
He said residents should pay attention to alerts issued by authorities and humanitarian agencies, including SMS warnings from the Kenya Red Cross, which may advise people on areas to avoid and where to seek safety.
The third measure, he said, was for individuals to avoid taking unnecessary risks during floods.
Idris particularly warned motorists against attempting to drive through moving floodwaters, saying the power of a vehicle does not guarantee safety.
“We have seen individuals see moving water and think they are very good drivers and your vehicle is powerful. It is not worth it,” he said.
He recalled previous incidents in which reckless decisions by motorists during flooding had resulted in loss of lives.
“Drivers were reckless and a number of lives were lost,” he said.
According to Idris, the expected rains could affect large parts of the country, with rainfall projected to remain above normal levels for much of the season.
The heavy rains are expected to increase water levels in rivers, lakes and other water bodies, while also saturating the ground.
The increased water levels could cause rivers to burst their banks, putting communities living along riverbanks and in low-lying areas at heightened risk of displacement.
Idris warned that the highlands would face a different set of risks because of continued rainfall and saturated soils.
“In the highlands, there will be a lot of water and continuation of rain and the risks are landslides, collapsed buildings,” he said.
