Kenya is experiencing widespread flooding caused by enhanced rains which started on the third and fourth weeks of October 2023 marking the beginning of the rainy season (October – December). The rainy season has been characterized by heavy storms that caused flooding , flash floods, and increased river levels (Relief Web, November 2023).
The Government of Kenya (November 27th, 2023) classified the floods emergency at the Alarm stage up from the alert stage. While acknowledging the floods disaster as a national concern, the President of the Republic of Kenya has acknowledged that this is a large-scale emergency that needs attention and additional resources (AFP, November 2023).
Some of the worst affected counties include counties in Kenya that border Somalia (Mandera, Wajir and Tana River counties) and counties in the northern Kenya region bordering Ethiopia are also hit hard by flooding (AP News).
Some ACT Kenya Forum members have already started providing support to the affected communities while other ACT Kenya forum members who have programs in the worst affected regions are planning to respond to the flood emergency. Two international members (Church World Service (CWS) and Lutheran World Federation – World Service (LWF-WS), and two national members Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church (KELC) and the National Council Churches of Kenya (NCCK) are planning to respond to the flood’s crisis.
