By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
Kenya, 20 May 2026 - Garissa County’s Kenya Red Cross has distributed non-food items to 1,000 households of internally displaced persons affected by floods along River Tana.
Speaking during the distribution, the Kenya Red Cross Garissa County Coordinator, Daud Ahmed Shale, said the flood-affected residents received assorted household goods, including collapsible jerrycans, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, and hygiene items such as water purifiers and bar soaps.
He said the Kenya Red Cross started distributing the items earlier this week, reaching people whose houses were flooded and who are currently sheltering in various camps within Garissa town.
“Today we are here at the FTC to support about 400 households affected by the floods. In Garissa, there is an outbreak of dengue fever. We are urging flood victims to always sleep under treated mosquito nets,” he said.
Daud also urged residents to observe high standards of hygiene during the flooding, warning of the likelihood of waterborne diseases.
The recent floods have displaced hundreds of people in Mororo and along the Tana River, with the majority now living in various IDP camps.
Those affected are mainly from Bulla Punda, Bulla Kamor, Bulla Sheikh, Bakuyu, and Ziwani villages.
They are currently camping at the Farmer Training Centre (FTC), Hyuga, and Police Training Centre internal displacement camps.
Issa Malio, with his wife and grandchildren, was housed in a ragged makeshift tent that shelters six members of his family.
He has been at the camp for the past week since floods hit his Ziwani village, which is barely two kilometres from the camp.
More from Kenya
Malio said their source of livelihood has been destroyed. Their farms in the village were swept away by the floods, leaving them with nothing — not even clothes.
“We have a big problem here in Ziwani because it is also where we derive most of our livelihood. We have farms along the river and our people burn charcoal from Mathenge trees, which brings in some income,” Malio said.
“Sometimes floodwaters reach our houses at night while we are sleeping and by the time you wake up, everything, including our clothes and kitchen items, is swept away. We have been here since the 28th of last month. Although the waters have now subsided, we are still worried because more dams upstream on the Tana River may release water,” he added.
He said sleeping in the tents has not been easy, especially because the tents are old and full of slits.
When it rains, water flows directly into the tent, and when it does not rain, they have to deal with mosquitoes.
“You cannot sleep here without a mosquito net, which we do not have. Our children are now sick — some have diarrhoea, others are vomiting, and others have fever. We hear that there is an outbreak of dengue fever,” Malio said.
“We appeal to the government and well-wishers to come and help us with food, mosquito nets, blankets, and even cooking utensils,” he added.
Asked why they have not moved to permanently higher grounds as advised by the county government, Malio said the areas they are asked to move to are unsafe due to inter-communal conflicts, and without proper measures, they cannot risk their lives.