Kenya Red Cross calls for support for displaced people following Nairobi floods
The Kenya Red Cross Society has called for urgent support for families displaced by the floods in Nairobi, warning that many residents, particularly those living in informal settlements.
Speaking during an interview with the local TV station on Saturday, March 7, 2026, the Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General, Ahmed Idris, said there remains a continuous need for humanitarian support for people affected by the floods, especially those whose houses were washed away by the rising waters.
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“There is a continuous need for support for displaced people, especially those whose houses were washed away,” Idris said.
He noted that the worst impact has been recorded in informal settlements across the city, including Kawangware, Mukuru, and Mathare North, areas that have historically been vulnerable to flooding during heavy rains.
According to Idris, humanitarian teams are already preparing for the possibility of more severe flooding, as the rainy season has only just begun.
“We’re preparing for the worst; the rainy season just began. There is a high possibility that Nairobi will experience the same situation.”
He emphasised that while heavy rainfall is unavoidable, authorities and communities must focus on how stormwater is managed in the city to reduce the risk of flooding.
“There’s one thing for it to rain, and another question of where the water goes,” Idris said.
Further, he stressed that improving drainage systems in Nairobi could significantly reduce flood-related damage.
However, he clarified that the issue is not necessarily about building new infrastructure but about maintaining and clearing the existing drainage systems.
“We need to work actively on that question. Do we have better water clearance and drainage systems? “Not from a construction perspective, but clearing the existing drainage systems.”
Furthermore, he revealed that the organisation has placed rescue teams and boats on standby across Nairobi after delays hampered emergency response efforts during recent flooding in the city.
“What we witnessed was far beyond the impact we had anticipated. Our teams were extremely stretched,” Idris said while speaking about the organization’s response to the floods.
He explained that one of the biggest challenges faced by rescue teams was the state of roads across the city, which significantly slowed down movement and delayed emergency operations.
“One of the things that delayed our response was that the roads were a complete mess. You couldn’t move anywhere,” he said.
