A devastating dam failure in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley has caused the death of at least 71 people. As rescue operations continue, this number is expected to increase.
The incident transpired early on Monday, April 29, when the Old Kijabe Dam, located in the Mai Mahiu area, overflowed due to weeks of heavy rainfall and flooding.
According to Susan Kihika, the governor of Nakuru, the area’s flooding situation deteriorated due to the dam’s breach. However, local inhabitants and emergency responders have informed CNN that the disaster stemmed from water flowing through a tunnel beneath a railway bridge due to blockage in a culvert.
The dam’s rupture caused a flood of water, mud, and debris to sweep downstream, carrying away homes, vehicles, and people in its wake. Local residents described the terrifying experience of being awakened by a loud noise and cries as the floodwaters inundated their homes. Peter Muhoho, a resident of the nearby village of Kianugu, recounted, “I was asleep when I heard a loud bang and screams. Water had flooded the area.”
The floodwaters also engulfed a highway, disrupting transportation in one of Kenya’s busiest areas and leaving vehicles entangled in debris. Medical teams treated the injured while search and rescue teams sifted through the wreckage in search of survivors.
As rescue efforts persisted, Anthony Muchiri, an emergency response manager with the Kenya Red Cross, described the situation as the most severe he has encountered in his career.
Reacting to the situation, Kenya’s Interior Minister, Kithure Kindiki, mandated an immediate inspection of all public and private dams and water reservoirs nationwide, with over 178 liable to “spill over” at any time. He stressed the urgency of evaluating the safety of these structures to prevent further accidents. Kindiki also stated that if necessary, security and intelligence officials should give evacuation orders for high-risk areas. He voiced his concern about the loss of life and property damage caused by the ongoing floods in a post on X.
The heavy rains are attributed to the combined effects of El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole, weather phenomena causing unprecedented rainfall across the region. This flooding follows a severe drought, the worst in 40 years, which left millions in need of food and water.
The death toll in Kenya’s March-May rainy season has exceeded 228, with 72 missing and over 212,000 people displaced nationwide. In Tana River County, a boat overturned in the swollen river, leading to at least two deaths, while 23 others were rescued. Governor Kihika has been visiting affected areas, underscoring the need to drain the water in dams to prevent future disasters.
Weather experts predict the flood crisis will intensify in the upcoming weeks due to the ongoing El Nino weather pattern. Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General and CEO of the International Federation of Red Cross, stated that the heavy rainfall since March has triggered severe floods, river overflows, and landslides, resulting in over 200 deaths in Kenya alone.
The Kenyan government is marshaling resources to assist those affected by the floods, while rescue teams persist in their search for survivors following this catastrophic event.
The Horn of Africa, which includes countries like Kenya, is one of the regions globally most vulnerable to climate-related issues. The extreme weather conditions have also affected neighboring East African countries, such as Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda, where hundreds have died, and thousands have been displaced.
