Multi-agency team moves to tackle Mavoko flooding
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Floods in Tana River/KENYA RED CROSS
A worsening flood crisis in Tana River County has left entire villages cut off, with humanitarian agencies warning that the scale of destruction remains largely underreported despite mounting losses to lives and livelihoods.
According to the Kenya Red Cross Society, communities in the Tana Delta continue to grapple with severe flooding triggered by the March-May long rains, which have inundated homes, submerged farms and cut off critical transport links.
Among the hardest-hit areas are the villages of Miliki, Majaliwa and Onido, which remain completely marooned by floodwaters, leaving residents isolated and in urgent need of assistance.
"Flooding in Tana River County remains a severe but underreported crisis," the Kenya Red Cross said in an update.
The humanitarian agency noted that water levels at Idsowe Bridge remain dangerously high, worsening flooding downstream and hampering access to affected communities.
The situation in Tana River mirrors a broader national disaster that has affected tens of thousands of households across the country.
Kenya Red Cross data shows that the March-May rains have affected 85,993 households in 41 counties, displacing 18,587 households and causing widespread destruction to infrastructure, water sources and agricultural land.
At least 355 water sources have been destroyed nationwide, while an estimated 38,955 acres of crops have been wiped out, dealing a major blow to food production and household incomes.
In Tana River, the impact has been particularly severe because many residents depend on farming, fishing and livestock keeping for survival.
Large sections of farmland remain submerged, destroying crops that farmers had hoped would sustain their families and generate income during the year.
"Farms are submerged. Livelihoods are gone," the Red Cross said.
The destruction has heightened concerns over food security in a county that has historically faced recurring climate-related shocks, including floods and droughts.
Response teams have been deployed to support affected families, but access challenges continue to hinder humanitarian operations.
According to the Red Cross, emergency assistance has reached 2,722 households through the distribution of household items and hygiene supplies.
However, many flood-hit areas remain inaccessible due to damaged roads, submerged bridges and high water levels.
The continued isolation of some communities has raised fears that vulnerable families could face shortages of food, clean drinking water and essential medical services if floodwaters persist.
Humanitarian agencies have called for increased support to reach affected populations and prevent a further deterioration of conditions in the county.
The floods come as Kenya experiences increasingly frequent and intense weather extremes linked to climate change, with experts warning that vulnerable regions such as Tana River are likely to continue bearing the brunt of future climate shocks.
