The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) has admitted that the deadly floods that struck on Friday overwhelmed emergency teams, as the number of people killed by the ongoing heavy rains rose to 28.
KRCS Secretary General Dr. Ahmed Idris said during an interview on Citizen Weekend that the scale and intensity of the flooding were far beyond what had been projected, leaving rescue teams stretched thin across multiple affected areas.
“What we witnessed yesterday (Friday) was far beyond what we had anticipated in terms of impact, and as a result our teams were extremely stretched,” said Dr. Idris.
He explained that flooded and impassable roads severely hampered rescue operations, particularly in parts of Nairobi, where movement was nearly impossible.
“One of the factors that delayed our response last night was that many roads were completely inaccessible, making movement very difficult. In some cases, it took us more than two hours to move from South C to, for example, along Ngong Road,” he said.
Dr. Idris noted that the organisation has since reviewed its response mechanisms and reorganised its operations to improve readiness in case the rains continue. He said three emergency teams have been placed on standby in Nairobi, equipped with rescue boats and trained aqua rescue personnel.
“As we speak, we have three teams on standby in Nairobi, including two boats and fully trained aqua rescue teams. We have therefore put our best foot forward to ensure we can respond more effectively,” he said.
He added that the Red Cross’s disaster response strategy is anchored on weather forecasts and anticipatory planning, allowing the organisation to deploy resources before disasters strike.
“Our policy position is that our interventions are guided by anticipatory planning. Once we receive the weather forecast, we immediately begin preparations and put in place the proper response mechanisms,” Dr. Idris explained.
He said the Red Cross has already distributed resources to flood-prone areas and pre-positioned essential relief supplies for displaced families, including temporary shelter materials and kitchen sets.
The humanitarian agency is currently monitoring at least 11 counties that have either been affected by floods or are at high risk as heavy rains continue across the country.
