Kenya: floods threaten marginalized people

(Nairobi) – Kenyan authorities have failed to adequately respond to flash floods resulting from heavy rains, Human Rights Watch said today. The floods have left at least 170 dead; displaced more than 200,000; destroyed property, infrastructure and livelihoods across the country; and exacerbated socioeconomic vulnerabilities.

The Kenyan government has an obligation to protect people when a human rights disaster occurs. Extreme weather events, such as flooding, are particularly threatening to marginalized and at-risk populations, including older people, people with disabilities, people living in poverty, and rural populations.

“The devastation underway underscores the government’s obligation to prepare for and respond promptly to the foreseeable impacts of climate change and natural disasters,” said Nyagoah Tut Pur, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Kenyan authorities must urgently ensure support to affected communities and protect populations facing high risk.”

Kenya and most of the East African region have been hit by relentless and devastating rains in recent weeks, as a result The boy The weather pattern exacerbates seasonal rainfall. Recent studies suggest that climate change could be a contributing factor. The government has acknowledged that the extreme weather events were predictable.

In recent days, social media videos and mainstream media reports indicate that affected people were receiving little or no support from the government to reach safety and access essential services such as shelter, medical care and assistance. food. Media reported that police helplines and rescue teams did not respond in some places.

In its plans to combat climate change, including the comprehensive National Climate Change Action Plan 2023-2027 and its disaster response plans, Kenya identified flooding as a risk, identified areas that could be affected and highlighted ways to mitigate it. . The country also has a national disaster management unit.

As early as May 2023, the Kenya Meteorological Department warned that the country would experience increased rainfall due to El Niño between May-July and October-December, which would continue until early 2024.

That same month, the government announced that at least 10 billion Kenya shillings (about $80 million) would be released to prepare a nationwide response. The constitution requires county governments to set aside 2 percent of their annual budgets for disaster response. However, the government did not put in place a timely national response plan. In August 2023, the Ministry of Health began coordinating with county governments to stock up on medical supplies and begin cholera vaccination. But in October, President William Ruto announced, wrongly, that Kenya would not experience El Niño rains as previously forecast.

Between October and February, 1,781 people died due to river floods, flash floods and landslides, triggered by heavy rains in the Western, Northeastern, Central and Coastal regions. The Kenya Red Cross also reported an increase in waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea.

It is unclear what happened to the funds that had been set aside for the response, and some media outlets reported that the money was misappropriated. In November, parliament approved an additional 8.2 billion Kenyan shillings (about $60.7 million). A Kenya Red Cross official told Human Rights Watch that Kenya appears to have the capacity and resources to adequately prepare for heavy rains, but the government was slow to act despite warnings from the meteorological department and its partners.

Despite these harsh lessons from the seasonal rains of late 2023 and warnings from the meteorological department, authorities did not take adequate measures to prevent new disasters in early 2024 and were slow to respond, Human Rights Watch said. It was not until April 24, after almost a month of heavy rain and many deaths, that President Ruto announced the creation of a multi-agency team to manage the response. Opposition leaders and clergy have called on the government to declare a national disaster and hold those responsible for inaction accountable.

In low-income Nairobi neighborhoods such as Mathare, Mukuru Kwa Jenga and Kariobangi, the impact of flooding has been quite severe due to less robust structures, congestion and poor sanitation infrastructure, leaving people homeless and creating risks for public health such as malaria, cholera, and diarrhea. A well-known human rights activist, Benna Buluma, known as Mama Victor, was among the 10 people who died on April 4 trapped in her home by floods.

On April 29, the Mathare Social Justice Center said on social media that at least 200 people had been displaced and had yet to receive support from the national or county governments for temporary shelter, food and other necessary items.

Authorities should conduct a thorough and credible investigation to identify what went wrong and the lessons learned, Human Rights Watch said.

The meteorological department has stated that the rains will continue in May.

On April 30, the government announced that people living in risky locations would have to relocate within 48 hours or be forcibly evicted.

The Kenyan authorities have the responsibility to ensure that all possible measures are taken to prevent or alleviate human suffering resulting from the ongoing floods and to realize the rights to life, health, housing, food, water and the healing of those most affected. Authorities must ensure that the response is inclusive and respects people’s rights.

“The government should ensure a timely and effective approach to disaster management,” Pur said. “This could ensure that future catastrophes are not as devastating and deadly.”