NAIROBI, Kenya – Quick action is essential to mitigate the impact on communities after natural disasters.
Like many countries, Kenya has been forced to deal with the occasional threat of floods, which has seriously damaged infrastructure and human lives.
Since March 2024, there has been an unparalleled amount of rainfall, resulting in one of the most catastrophic flooding disasters the East African nation has ever experienced.
The disaster has claimed hundreds of lives, displaced thousands, and severely damaged numerous communities throughout the country.
Floods are among the worst natural disasters on earth, and they have a disastrous effect on the economy.
What is the total cost needed to address floods globally?
For instance, the World Economic Forum reports that the total cost of storm damage worldwide over the previous 50 years has been $521 billion (Sh 67.4 trillion).
However, to support rescue efforts and preserve lives, new and developing technologies—like drones—are gradually being developed for disaster management.
This is because drones are portable and practical in hard-to-reach places.
Against this backdrop, urgent action is required to increase disaster preparedness protocols, improve resilience to future extreme weather occurrences, and aid the impacted populations as Kenya struggles with this crisis.
“We want the international community, government agencies, and humanitarian groups to work together to lessen the effects of this tragedy and assist the afflicted people in their efforts to recover. Our sympathies are with everyone touched by the floods,” said Kenya Flying Labs CEO Cleopa Otieno.
What Kenya Flying Labs and Kenya Red Cross are doing
In response, pilots from Kenya Flying Labs UAS and the renowned humanitarian organisation Kenya Red Cross have partnered to use drones to deliver critical support in determining regions of high risk, mapping affected areas within communities, and analysing the level of flooding.
Drones and unmanned Vehicles (UAVs) with sophisticated sensors and high-resolution cameras are instrumental pieces of equipment for disaster management.
When flooding occurs, drones quickly survey the area from the air, gathering data and images in real-time to determine the extent of the damage and pinpoint locations that require emergency aid.
Thanks to this aerial perspective, Otieno observed that responders can more effectively plan and prioritise resources in such scenarios.
“Kenya Flying Labs and Kenya Red Cross are steadfast in their commitment to working together to serve the impacted communities as the flooding scenario develops. Through collaboration and the power of technology, Kenya can become more disaster-resistant in the future,” Otieno told Y News.
While exhibiting the technology at the first Africa Climate Summit (ACS) 2023, Otieno stated they are working with World Vision Kenya to promote using drones for social benefit.
How drone technology is addressing climate change effects
According to Otieno, drone technology is one of the cutting-edge strategies to combat climate change and increase community resilience.
“Although we focus on humanitarian applications, our team also has the expertise to provide specialised drone and drone data services to the development industry. Through our STEM programmes, we also assist young people in learning about robots and inspire them to pursue jobs in STEM,” he explained.
The Kenya Flying Labs focuses on disaster risk management, agriculture, environment, conservation, development and planning.
The backbone of many economies, the agricultural sector, has undergone significant global change.
Thanks to technological advancements, more land can be cultivated more effectively. These advancements have led to the increased size, speed, and productivity of agricultural equipment.
How farmers can increase production using drone technology
Farmers may increase their yields thanks to significant advancements in seed, irrigation, and fertiliser.
“We provide solutions based on actual needs. Our innovative solutions include mapping drones, heavy-lift drones, seeder drones, tethered drones, airships, and more,” Otieno further explained.
Otieno emphasised that the seeds used in cedar drones are produced from leftover charcoal and contain seeds.
“The seeds were previously thrown by hand. But we currently employ drones to perform this in remote locations,” he added.
Otieno claims they can cover more significant regions using drones that run on batteries for farming operations.
“The drones can cover three hectares in one flight, and one flight can last for fifteen minutes.” He also mentioned that Seed Ball Kenya makes the seed balls.
Data and connection are at the centre of a new agricultural revolution in Kenya.
In crop cultivation and farming, artificial intelligence, analytics, linked sensors, and other developing technologies can significantly boost yields, enhance the efficiency of both water and other inputs, and foster sustainability and resilience.
What is drone technology doing in the Tana Delta?
Now, enter Kenya Flying Labs, an initiative that has provided Kenya’s development and humanitarian sectors with cutting-edge drones, data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning solutions.
This comes as World Vision Kenya (WVK) has embraced strategic partnerships and innovative approaches to strengthen its climate change adaptation and livelihood restoration activities in the Tana River Delta. Land degradation and climate change threaten rural communities’ food security and livelihoods.
The WVK Tana River Climate Change and Livelihoods Restoration Project seeks to enhance the long-term resilience of nine farming and pastoral communities in the Delta by supporting sustainable natural resource management, farmland restoration, and general ecosystem strengthening initiatives.
“Since food security is a top priority for every community, through this Tana River project, we’re helping communities take charge of their food production and embrace climate-smart agriculture,” Otieno stated.
Challenges of using drone technology
Regarding some of the challenges facing this trade and hardware, Otieno disclosed that collisions are rare due to the controlled airspace and limited traffic but added that birds attack drones and take them down.
Y News has also established that limitations in their operational range and cargo capacity could improve drones’ full potential, particularly in distant or large-scale crises.
High costs, restricted infrastructure, and regulatory obstacles further hamper their deployment in humanitarian missions.
How airships are saving lives in Kisumu, Homa Bay counties
Meanwhile, Kisumu and Homa Bay counties have already taken advantage of this advanced technology and are now using airships to deliver drugs to hospitals. Airships can deliver between 5-15kgs of medicines.
“It has the advantage of being above ground, cutting distances by more than half. If you are looking at Kisumu and Homa Bay, which are about 80 km apart, with the hardship, you could cut that distance by half, and by doing so, you can deliver medical supplies faster than by using the road,” Otieno added.
The CEO observed that looking at some of the islands in Lake Victoria, like Remba, people use boats to deliver medical supplies to residents and health facilities.
“So, you can imagine the risk, especially to the lives of people taking medicines to these islands. We are essentially taking off from them and delivering that through the airship. Some areas are inaccessible because of the poor road infrastructure. Therefore, the airship has an advantage,” he explained.
However, Otieno admits that despite drone technology’s advantages in supporting emergency operations, widespread practical application has yet to occur.
