TANA RIVER, Kenya — The Tana River County Government has activated emergency preparedness measures ahead of the anticipated El Niño rains, placing all county departments on high alert as authorities move to minimise the impact of possible flooding.
Governor Dhadho Godhana directed the County Steering Group (CSG), which serves as the county’s Disaster Risk Management team, to immediately begin planning and coordinating emergency response measures.
Speaking during a County Executive Committee meeting, the governor instructed all county departments to work closely together and with national government agencies to strengthen disaster preparedness before the onset of the rains.
Coordinated disaster response
Godhana said the county government is collaborating with relevant ministries and agencies to improve emergency response capacity and protect residents living in flood-prone areas.
The coordinated approach, he said, aims to reduce the impact of flooding on communities while safeguarding lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.
“Tana River is among the counties most affected by floods. Every El Niño season, thousands of families are displaced from their homes and lose their property. Our long-term solution is the construction of cluster settlements to relocate residents from flood-prone areas to safer higher ground,” the governor said.
Flood-prone areas identified
County officials identified Tarasaa, Baomo I and II, Tula, Bura East, Dakole, Wayu and Kone as among the areas most vulnerable to flooding.
Preparedness efforts will focus on reducing risks in these locations while ensuring emergency response teams are ready to respond should flooding occur.
Tana River remains one of Kenya’s most flood-prone counties because much of its territory lies within the Tana River basin.
Heavy rainfall in upstream catchment areas frequently causes the river to overflow its banks, inundating homes, roads, schools and farmland.
Previous floods have displaced thousands of residents and disrupted access to healthcare, education and markets, while causing significant damage to infrastructure and livelihoods.
Focus on preparedness
The Kenya Meteorological Department has previously advised counties in flood-prone regions to strengthen preparedness whenever enhanced seasonal rainfall is forecast.
Disaster management experts have consistently emphasised that early warning systems, public awareness campaigns, coordinated emergency response and the relocation of vulnerable communities are among the most effective measures for reducing the humanitarian and economic effects of severe flooding.
County authorities said the latest preparedness measures are intended to ensure that emergency personnel, government agencies and local communities are ready to respond quickly if heavy rains trigger flooding in the coming weeks.