Heavy rains in late December 2009/early January 2010 caused massive flooding in northern, central and western Kenya causing human and livestock deaths and destroying property worth millions of kenyan Shillings. The National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) estimates that 58, 000 people have been affected by flooding in the October- December Short Rains season. The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) has called for support for 30,000 people facing dire humanitarian consequences from floods. As at 12 January, 30 people were confirmed dead, with reports of more missing or feared dead. Heavy rains on 9/10 January 2010 caused more flooding in Nairobi where hundreds of people were affected by flood waters, a building under construction collapsed in Kiambu and reportedly caused the death of three people. In Kawangwere slum in Nairobi, media reports estimate that 900 families have been affected by floods on 9/10 January 2010. Whilst flood waters have receded and most families have returned to their homes, needs in shelter, water and sanitation, infrastructure rehabilitation and livelihood recovery for the affected populations remain paramount. In Taveta district, heavy rainfall on 11 January 2010 across the border in Tanzania caused flash floods in nine (9) sub- location areas and affected 556 households whose houses where submerged and household property was damaged. World Vision confirmed the displacement of 100 households. Abori Primary was flooded and had toilet facilities under water posing a significant health risk to residents. The Ministry of Health officials on the ground have reported diarrhoea cases though exact numbers are yet to be confirmed. More recent rains on 18 January 2010, in Narok (west of Nairobi) left four classrooms at a school destroyed. Roofs were blown away by strong winds that followed the heavy rain. There are fears of landslides happening and the local community has been evacuated to higher and safer grounds. The District Officer and KRCS volunteers visited the landslide prone area to urge resisting residents to vacate. Close

The Crisis Consultative Forum (CCF), the government-led humanitarian coordination group, met on 13 January 2010. The Permanent Secretary in MoSSP lauded humanitarian actors for preparedness efforts that resulted in quick response and less costly operations in the aftermath of floods. The PS briefed that three sub-committee meetings chaired by the Prime Minister took place in January 2010 to review response to the floods and discuss what additional support can be provided. The Government has announced that it will make available Ksh. 4.5 billion to help address the situation which includes the rehabilitation of roads, and provision of food and non-food items as well as addressing health issues. Out of the Ksh. 4.5 billion, Ksh. 2.91 billion is new funding while Ksh. 1.58 billion will be funding sourced from other Ministry budgets and the existing drought funds. A Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) is being planned for early February 2010 by UNDP and OCHA to support the government to determine the recovery needs. UN Agencies, NGOs and the Kenya Red Cross Society participate in the CCF. Close

Heavy rains received in the Oct-Dec 2009 season may positively influence crop production in parts of Kenya. The Ukambani area is expecting a bumper maize harvest. The threat of army worms in Coast lower Eastern and Kajiado has been quickly brought under control by the Ministry of Agriculture. The extent of the impact of the rains is yet to be assessed. Pasture for livestock has regenerated and water sources recharged. Pasture improved greatly due to the rains, making distances to grazing areas also reduce by 38.1% in Kilifi, for instance. Livestock trekked shorter distances to graze, improving their body condition and ultimately increasing their value at local markets. In Mandera, MoSSP reports that pastoralists who had migrated with their livestock to Ethiopia during the peak of 2009 drought have come back and formed satellite settlements (makeshift villages) in Mandera Central and West districts. The settlements have no water and the government says these populations need to be targeted under Emergency Operations (EMOP) or GoK food distributions. Close

Cholera, Malaria and Rift Valley Fever are a concern in the aftermath of massive flooding. The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and WHO, have increased their disease surveillance in districts affected by floods. A window period of 4-8 weeks is expected for malaria, rift valley fever and even cholera to start manifesting. Nationwide, there are 11, 769 cases with 274 deaths (CFR of 2.3%) reported by between January and December 2009. A total of 50 districts have been affected across Kenya. Between 1st and 14th January 2010, seven districts have reported 123 new cases with no deaths recorded. Most of the districts affected were hard-hit by drought last year and experience food insecurity. The four consecutive deficient rains seasons experienced since 2008 have heightened households’ susceptibility to disease outbreaks given the poor access to water, compromised hygiene practices, poor nutrition and exposure to floods. Close

The Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) Sir John Holmes, on 15 January 2010, approved the allocation of US$10 million Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for underfunded projects. Kenya was selected due to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the imbalanced funding levels to the 2009 Emergency Humanitarian Response Plan (EHRP). The Kenya Humanitarian Partnership Team (KHPT), a forum led by the Humanitarian Coordinator in Kenya, on 14 February agreed that focus of the underfunded grant will be in the Rift Valley for cholera response, food aid and malnutrition. The KHPT also agreed to target refugee needs in Dadaab and Kakuma. Close