For many years now, thousands of residences and properties worth millions of shillings have been destroyed by floods in Kilifi and Tana River.
The devastating effects of the floods not only render families homeless but also cause massive losses in farms, forcing them to depend on relief food from the government and humanitarian organisations.
A flood recovery project initiated by the Kenya Red Cross Society through the funding of the British Red Cross is however changing the narrative.
Anthony Muchiri, the Kenya Red Cross Society emergency response manager overseeing the project, said it is a livelihood initiative targeting farmers affected by the El Niño floods of 2023.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with local governments, includes water and sanitation programmes and support for farmers with climate-smart seeds that mature quickly for sale and personal consumption.
Muchiri added that, in collaboration with the government, they have worked in areas that previously lacked water by sinking boreholes and installing solar-powered pumps to supply water to communities.
“We have seen a very positive approach where the local government has demarcated farms for farmers, allowing them to relocate to higher grounds while still accessing their farms for cultivation,” he said.
According to him, the livelihood projects for farmers have been highly successful. A visit to project sites in Kilifi and Tana River revealed a significant impact on beneficiaries who suffered during the El Niño rains.
In Kilifi, Joseph Kayaa, a farmer displaced by floods in Chakama location after his home and farm were washed away, is among 180 farmers who received seeds and farm inputs.
Now living on higher ground, Kayaa planted green grams, which mature in two months, and harvested abundantly.
During the visit he was harvesting and explained that he relocated to higher ground after being displaced by the El Niño rains in 2007.
“Pumping water from the river was difficult, so we had to farm close to the river for irrigation. We are grateful to the Kenya Red Cross for providing cowpeas, maize, and millet seeds and for training us on improved farming methods,” he said.
Downstream, Kayaa also planted maize using irrigation and is currently harvesting.
“I harvested 190 kilos of green grams from this one-acre farm and I am still harvesting green maize. The income helps me pay school fees for my six children and meet household needs since I engage in agribusiness,” he said.
George Ruwa, an agricultural officer in charge of Adu ward, noted that project beneficiaries had a bumper harvest and are now selling their produce.
He said the Red Cross initiative not only helped them recover from the disaster but also provided nutritious food.
Previously, residents of Kavunyalalo relied on fetching water directly from River Galana, exposing them to constant hippo and crocodile attacks.
Women and girls had to walk long distances to the river, facing not only wildlife threats but also incidents of gender-based violence.
Today, women can access water from nearby kiosks, significantly reducing safety risks. Elizabeth Karisa, a resident of Kavunyalalo, recalled that girls were often assaulted while fetching water but said the situation has since improved.
