By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
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Kenya, 12 May 2026 - Kenya Red Cross Society is ramping up emergency response efforts in Tana River County as rising water levels along the Tana River threaten thousands of households, even as early warning systems help some communities avoid the worst.
Heavy rains pounding Kenya’s highland areas have triggered alerts from the Kenya Meteorological Department over impending floods in the Tana River Basin.
In response, more than 500 families from Samicha, Odole and Mwanja villages have already evacuated to the temporary Marafa camp in Tana Delta sub-county, fearing their homes could soon be submerged.
“We chose to act early after hearing from weather experts and government officials,” said one resident at the camp. “It’s better to be safe now than sorry later.” He added
Their decision reflects a growing shift toward anticipatory action, where communities respond to forecasts before disaster strikes, an approach that is increasingly being championed by humanitarian agencies as climate shocks intensify.
The Kenya Red Cross Society has since stepped in to support displaced families with shelter, water treatment chemicals, vector control and integrated health outreach services.
However, as the number of affected households rises, urgent needs are emerging, particularly for food, clean water and additional shelter.
At the same time, the organisation has activated its Early Action Protocol, working closely with county officials and local administrators to identify high-risk zones and coordinate response efforts.
Security teams and local leaders are also urging residents in low-lying areas to heed evacuation advisories in a bid to prevent loss of life.
With support from the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid through the Finnish Red Cross, the Red Cross has deployed a Crisis Modifier, flexible pre-arranged funding that enables rapid response before a crisis escalates.
Through this mechanism, cash and voucher assistance has been extended to an additional 500 households, each receiving Sh10,500 via mobile transfers.
The cash support is helping families meet immediate needs such as food, water, shelter and healthcare, particularly in trading centres like Bangale, Bura, Minjila, Oda and Madogo where markets remain functional despite disruptions.
With rising commodity prices and transport costs eroding purchasing power, this approach is offering affected households a degree of dignity and flexibility in choosing how best to survive the crisis.
Yet even as these interventions take effect, the situation on the ground remains dire.
Sustained rainfall in both local and upstream catchments, combined with increased downstream flows and seasonal laghas from Kitui and Meru, has caused the Tana River to burst its banks in multiple sections.
Widespread flooding has inundated settlements, farmlands and critical infrastructure, particularly in Tana Delta, Garsen North and surrounding areas.
Road networks have been damaged, cutting off access to interior villages, while waterlogging continues to disrupt markets, essential services and humanitarian operations.
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Livelihoods have been severely affected, with farmers counting losses from destroyed crops, pastoralists reporting drowned livestock, and fishing communities struggling as assets are swept away.
The risks are far from over.
Authorities warn that continued inflows could push water levels even higher, triggering further displacement.
There are also growing concerns over outbreaks of waterborne and vector-borne diseases such as cholera and malaria due to poor sanitation and stagnant water.
Food insecurity is expected to worsen as supply chains remain disrupted and household stocks run low.
Current projections indicate that at least 10,300 households, affecting an estimated 68,000 people, are at risk across flood-prone wards including Wayu, Sala, Madogo, Chewele, Kinakomba and parts of Tana Delta. The impact could spread further across the county if the rains persist.
Even so, the experience of communities that acted early is emerging as a critical lesson.
By heeding warnings and evacuating in advance, families in Tana Delta have managed to avoid the worst of the devastation now affecting other areas.
Humanitarian actors say this demonstrates the effectiveness of anticipatory action, not just in saving lives, but also in reducing the overall cost of disaster response.
The Kenya Red Cross Society is now pushing to scale up this approach across Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands.
Through Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives, local teams are being trained to interpret and disseminate early warning information, effectively becoming first responders within their communities.
At an institutional level, efforts are also underway to pre-position food, water and shelter supplies based on forecasts, trigger cash assistance before displacement occurs, and conduct community drills alongside infrastructure reinforcements in high-risk areas.
The message from responders is clear that, early action works, but it must be expanded.
As climate-related disasters become more frequent and severe, experts are calling on governments, donors and humanitarian organisations to invest more in forecast-based financing, early evacuations and pre-emptive aid distribution.
For the families already displaced in Tana River, the stakes could not be higher. Their experience offers both a warning and a roadmap, one that shows that while floods may be inevitable, their impact does not have to be devastating.