The context
The recent heavy rains in East Africa have led to devastating floods. In Kenya, catastrophic floods have resulted in significant loss of life, displacement of communities, destruction of infrastructure and damage to properties. The affected communities urgently need support to address their basic needs and prevent further loss and suffering (cf. https://reliefweb.int/disaster/fl-2024-000045-ken). Nairobi leads with the highest number of casualties, followed by Rift Valley, then Western, Eastern, Central and Coast. In Nairobi, Mathare and Mukuru slums are the most affected areas, while Baringo is the most affected county in the Rift Valley region. CADIS International and CADIS Kenya immediately mobilised to respond to the emergency.
The project
Funded by the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation (BTCCF) of Taiwan, the main objective of the 3-month project “Emergency Response and Early Recovery Assistance to Flood-affected Population in Kenya” is to provide immediate and effective relief to populations affected by severe flooding in Kenya through shelter provision, food and non-food distribution and healthcare. The targeted areas are mostly affected by the floods and have not received immense support from the government and other organizations. The project targets Mukuru and Mathare slums in Nairobi and Baringo County. In Baringo, the project will benefit the residents of three locations (Salabani, Ng’ambo, Eldume), the most affected areas. In Mathare, the goal will be to relocate to secured grounds for individuals who were displaced by the floods. This will include paying 3-month house rents for 200 low-income families. In Baringo, we plan to ensure displaced individuals access to safe temporary shelter. We will help the people to construct 50 semi-permanent houses.
Mathare is one of Kenya's oldest and second-largest informal settlements. It is located in the Eastlands of Nairobi and covers a land area of 157 hectares. The area faces significant challenges due to the unplanned nature of its structures and congestion. The socioeconomic life of Mathare slums is complex, with informal labor opportunities, such as construction, small food kiosks, and hawking, being common. (cf. https://mathare.org/the-history-of-mathare/) Approximately 10,000 families across the area have become homeless after the flooding destroyed their houses.
Here, the proposed intervention is to provide safe shelter and immediate needs for flood victims who have been displaced from their homes.
Mukuru Kwa Njenga is an informal settlement within the larger Mukuru slums in Nairobi, Kenya. It is situated approximately 7 kilometers from Nairobi's Central business area. The living conditions in Mukuru kwa Njenga are challenging, with the entire family, an average of 5 to 7 members, residing in a small one-roomed corrugated iron sheet house. Most people are poor, with daily economic sustenance being casual labor and small kiosk businesses. Heavy rains, exacerbated by the global climate crisis, have inundated Mukuru, wreaking havoc on lives, property, and livelihoods.
Here, the proposed intervention is to provide medical assistance for vulnerable individuals and families in the slums affected by illness.
Baringo County, located in the Rift Valley region of Kenya, is characterized by a diverse topography that includes low-lying areas prone to flooding, especially during the rainy seasons. The main economic sustenance is agriculture, with livestock keeping and subsistence farming. The recent floods have affected Baringo South and Baringo North. The rising water levels in Lake Baringo, one of the country’s most significant bodies of water, have exacerbated the situation and over 2,000 households have been displaced.
Here, the proposed intervention is to address immediate food insecurity and ensure basic hygiene needs are met for 500 families.
CADIS Kenya will be assisted with 10 regular volunteers for the implementation of the programs. They will be coming from the group of the Camillian Sisters (healthcare professionals), Lay Camillian Family, Camillian religious and seminarians. CADIS International assesses and regularly monitors the project activities to accomplish targeted programs and goals, submits regular reports (narrative and financial) to BTCCF, and conducts an end-of-the-project evaluation.