Each year, hundreds or thousands of residents and property worth millions are destroyed by the flood’s disaster caused by heavy rains in the country.

The devastating effects of the floods not only render families homeless but also causes massive losses in farms forcing them to depend on relief food from the government and humanitarian organisations such as the Kenya Red Cross Society.

Among the counties which suffer heavily during the floods disasters are Kilifi and Tana River where rescue operations have to be conducted for the victims and camps established for those displaced by the disaster.

A floods recovery project initiated by the Kenya Red Cross Society through the funding of British Red Cross is however changing the narrative.

Anthony Muchiri, Kenya Red Cross Society Emergency Response Manager who is in charge of the project funded by British Red Cross said it was a livelihood project that targeted farmers affected by the El Nino floods of 2023.

“We have seen a very wonderful approach where local government has been able to demarcate farms for farmers and farmers relocate to higher grounds during floods” he said.

Muchiri said in collaboration with the government, they have worked in places which had no water and sunk boreholes then solarised them to pump water for the communities.

He said a rescue boat launched in Kipini was acquired at the height of floods and was used for rescue operations and later the county Government of Tana River requested them to help in distributing exams.

To him, the livelihoods projects for farmers have been very successful.

The projects done in partnership with the local governments included Water and Sanitation programs, supporting farmers with climate smart seeds that take a short period to mature.

A tour to the projects in Kilifi and Tana River revealed there has been a great impact for beneficiaries who suffered during the El Nino rains.

In Kilifi, Joseph Kayaa a farmer who was displaced by floods in Chakama location after his home and farm was washed away is among 180 farmers who was supported with seeds and farm inputs.

Kayaa now living on higher grounds, planted green grams which take two months to mature and got a bumper harvest.

We found him harvesting and he revealed that he moved to the higher grounds after he was displaced by the El Nino rains in 2007.

“Pumping water from the river here was difficult so we had to go near the river and do irrigation, we thank the Kenya Red Cross who gave cow peas, maize, millet seeds and they trained us on the best farming methods,” he said.

Downstream, the farmer also planted maize, in the farms near the river through irrigation and is also currently harvesting.

“I harvested 190 kilos of green grams in this one-acre farm and am still harvesting green maize, the money I use to pay school fees for my six children and households needs because I do Agribusiness,” he said.

George Ruwa an Agricultural officer in Charge of Adu Ward said the beneficiaries of the project got a bumper harvest and are selling their harvests currently.

To him the project not only helped them to recover after the disaster but has enabled them to get nutritious food for their families.

“Currently families are in good health because there is enough food and they are earning from the harvests which is transforming their lives and those of their families,” he said.

Traditionally families in Kavunyalalo area used to fetch water directly from River Galana which was risky due to constant hippo and crocodile attacks.

Women and girls had to walk for a long distance to the river to get water which was not only risky due to the wildlife attacks but even cases of Gender Based Violence were reported.

Today, the women have access to water directly at water kiosks that has reduced the safety risks.

Elizabeth Karisa, a resident of Kavunyalalo said some girls used to be raped whenever they went to the river to fetch water but nowadays, such cases never occur.

“We used to suffer a lot going to fetch water to the river but we are happy for this water project as we are able to access water easily,” she said.

Khauthar Alwy, Kenya Red Cross Coordinator for Kilifi County said in the past two years, Kilifi lost over 5000 acres of farms that’s why together with British Red Cross, they came up with the floods recovery program to support the farmers.

“For Kilifi we supported 180 farmers with seeds that is eight kilograms maize, 8 kilos of green grams five kilogram of sorghum and a kilogram of millet,” she said.

In Tana River, the Kenya Red Cross acquired a speed boat which is not only used for rescue operations during floods but can also be used during national examinations and other emergency operations.

They also supported farmers who had been displaced by floods in Hola, who are now doing well as their economic livelihood has changed.

At Hola prison, the program came up with a water supply project which is in progress but seeks to support the institution in accessing water.