AG Deputy Secretary General for Programmes at the Kenya Red Cross Society Joe Mbalu, says more than 5,000 households have been displaced by floods across Kenya as heavy rains intensify.
Speaking in a Radio Generation interview on Monday, he warned that poor waste management, blocked drainage and settlement on riparian land are worsening the disaster as authorities and humanitarian agencies respond.
According to the Kenya Red Cross Society, more than 5,100 households have already been displaced by the floods, while about 11,000 households have been directly affected by the ongoing rains.
“These numbers are coming from different parts of the country,” Mbalu said. “So it is quite a huge concern.”
He noted that while heavy rains have hit urban areas such as Nairobi, other regions face different but related challenges.
In Homa Bay County, for example, the rising waters of Lake Victoria have displaced hundreds of families after the lake expanded into areas where people had settled.
“The lake has expanded into areas where people had built homes,” Mbalu said. “Some communities have had to move three to seven kilometres away from where they used to live.”
He explained that the current rainfall has compounded the problem, worsening flooding in lakeside communities that were already vulnerable.
Mbalu also warned that urban flooding is being intensified by poor waste management and blocked drainage systems.
The Kenya Red Cross Society has deployed emergency response teams to several affected areas across the country to support search and rescue operations, evacuate stranded residents and provide first aid to victims.
Red Cross responders have rescued people trapped in floodwaters and vehicles, while assessment teams continue to identify displaced families and urgent humanitarian needs.
The organisation has also issued safety advisories to the public, urging residents living in flood-prone areas to move to higher ground and avoid crossing flooded roads and rivers. It warns that even shallow moving water can sweep away vehicles or knock people down.
In addition, the Red Cross is working alongside government agencies in a multi-agency emergency response that includes the police, county governments and disaster management units to coordinate rescue missions, provide emergency assistance and monitor areas at risk of further flooding.
Officials from the organisation say teams remain on the ground as heavy rains continue, with the focus now shifting to helping displaced families, supporting relief distribution and strengthening early warning systems for communities likely to face further flooding.
Mbalu said human behaviour plays a significant role in how cities respond to heavy rainfall. “If people see clean environments and available bins, they are less likely to litter,” he said. “But when trash is already everywhere, it becomes easier for others to continue dumping waste.”
Blocked drainage channels caused by waste disposal can prevent storm water from flowing properly, increasing the risk of flooding during heavy rains.
Mbalu said enforcement of waste management rules and improved public awareness could help reduce such risks.
He also emphasised that Kenya has systems and institutions responsible for disaster management, including national and county-level disaster response agencies.
However, the challenge often lies in implementing existing plans and protocols.
“Many of the protocols already exist,” he said. “The weather events we are experiencing are forecasted by the meteorological department, and the early warning systems are in place.”
According to Mbalu, humanitarian organisations such as the Kenya Red Cross had anticipated the current crisis months earlier.
“As far back as October, we had already launched an emergency appeal because we could see the risks developing,” he said.
Weather forecasts had indicated possible drought conditions followed by heavy rainfall, which often leads to flash flooding, particularly when the ground is dry and unable to absorb water quickly.
Mbalu added that the humanitarian impact of floods goes beyond property damage.
Floodwaters can contaminate water sources and increase the risk of disease outbreaks. “With floods we begin to see cases of cholera, malaria and other water and vector-borne diseases,” he said.
Health concerns are already emerging in several regions where access to clean water has become more difficult.
At the same time, the country continues to deal with the effects of prolonged drought.
According to humanitarian estimates, about 3.3 million people across Kenya still require food assistance due to drought conditions.
Mbalu warned that the combination of drought and flooding is placing increasing pressure on humanitarian resources. “We are dealing with floods on one hand and drought on the other,” he said.
He also noted that funding for humanitarian responses remains limited, with many aid organisations relying heavily on international donors.
Global crises and economic pressures have reduced the availability of humanitarian funding in recent years, making it more difficult to respond to multiple emergencies at once.
Mbalu urged Kenyans to heed early warning messages issued by authorities and humanitarian agencies, particularly those living in flood-prone areas.
He said residents should move to safer ground when advised and avoid settling in riparian zones or other high-risk locations.
“Disasters will happen,” Mbalu said. “But if communities listen to warnings and take preventive action, we can reduce the loss of life and damage.”
