Since March of this year, Kenya has experienced heavy rains, like other countries in East Africa, which have caused widespread flooding and landslides in various regions. Forty-two (42) of the country's 47 counties have been affected by the floods, with Homa Bay, Kajiado, Mandera, Baringo, Nairobi, and Nakuru being the most affected as of May 6. The floods have affected more than 380,000 people, displaced more than 280,000, and more than 260 people have died. In addition, over 9,000 head of livestock have been lost and at least 41,000 acres of farmland have been submerged. (cf. OCHA 10/05/2024; The Star 12/05/2024).
CADIS International, through its local team CADIS Kenya, has organized an emergency response to the urgent needs of survivors to prevent further loss and suffering. The intervention includes the provision of temporary shelters, distribution of food and non-food items, healthcare, and livelihood support. The affected areas are those most impacted and that have not received significant support from the government and other civil organizations, such as the Mukuru and Mathare slums in Nairobi County and Eldume, Ng'ambo, and Salabani in Baringo County.
The project is supported by our international partner, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation of Taiwan. Tzu Chi, as it is commonly known, has been collaborating with CADIS in its various projects and countries since the COVID-19 pandemic.
From August 7 to 12 last year, CADIS International conducted its first monitoring and mid-term evaluation visit of the flood relief interventions in Nairobi and Baringo. On that occasion, Father Aris Miranda, director of CADIS, attended the distribution of non-food items (NFI) to beneficiaries in the Mathare slum.
Before the start of the ceremony, the CADIS team conducted two focus group discussions (FGD) and individual interviews with stakeholders. During the FGD, most of them stated that CADIS Kenya brought hope to their miserable situation and listened to the cry of the survivors. The worst thing that happened is that they can no longer resettle where they had settled before the flood, because the Kenyan government has imposed a no-build zone 15-20 meters from the riverbank.
The following day, the CADIS team, including Fr. Peter “Ning” Sukjit of CADIS Thailand, traveled to Baringo to meet the beneficiaries of the Eldume project, currently resettled in a camp for displaced persons within the premises of the African Inland Church (AIC) of Kenya.
Again, other FGDs and individual interviews were conducted. The flood survivors in Baringo stated that CADIS and Tzu Chi were blessings sent by God to those who had difficulty recovering the losses suffered after the flood. “They are the authentic expression of God's love for us. They are the true friends of this community. When the flood took away our homes and belongings, we were all scattered and confused and could not understand how to get out of this chaotic situation. But CADIS came to our aid; they helped us restore community relationships and inspired us to strengthen our solidarity in this time of crisis. If it were not for CADIS, we certainly would not be here together, because everyone would be trying to find a way to survive. With all the goodness that CADIS has shared, we are determined to continue our efforts until recovery.”
The most surprising and unique thing that happened, considering the number of survivors and the limited resources we brought, is that they decided among themselves who should receive such help or assistance in public, naming the beneficiaries and announcing them in public. The result was that everyone is satisfied. They hold on to the belief that the good of one is the good of all. This marks the great success of the program. It is not measured by the quantity and quality of goods distributed, but by its impact on the community.
