Since March of this year, Kenya has experienced heavy rainfall, like other eastern African countries, resulting in widespread floods 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 severely affected as of May 6. The floods had affected more than 380,000 people, displaced over 280,000, and more than 260 lives perished. Additionally, over 9,000 livestock had been lost and at least 41,000 acres of farmland submerged. (cf. OCHA 10/05/2024; The Star 12/05/2024).
CADIS International, through its local team CADIS Kenya, organized an emergency response to the urgent needs of survivors to prevent further loss and suffering. The intervention includes temporary shelter provision, food and non-food distribution, healthcare and livelihood support. The targeted areas are those mostly affected and have not received immense support from the government and other civil organizations such as 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 commonly known has been collaborating with CADIS in its several projects and countries since the COVID 19 pandemic.
Last August 7 to 12, CADIS International conducted its first monitoring visit and midpoint assessment of the flood relief interventions in Nairobi and Baringo. On that occasion, Fr. Aris Miranda, CADIS director witnessed the non-food items (NFI) distribution to the beneficiaries from Mathare slums.
Before the ceremony started, CADIS team conducted two random focused group discussions (FGDs) and individual interviews with the stakeholders. During the FGD, most of them claimed that CADIS Kenya has brought hope to their miserable situation and heard the survivors’ cry. The worst thing that happened is that they are no longer allowed to resettle from where they settled before the flood because the government of Kenya imposed a no-build zone 15 to 20 meters from the riverbank.
The following day, CADIS team including Fr. Peter “Ning” Sukjit of CADIS Thailand, travelled to Baringo to meet the project beneficiaries of Eldume who are presently resettled in an internally displaced people (IDPs) camp within the premises of the African International Church (AIC) of Kenya.
Again, another FGDs and individual interviews were conducted. The flood survivors of Baringo claimed that CADIS and Tzu Chi were blessings sent by God to those who were in difficulties recovering their losses 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 dispersed and confused and could hardly figure out how to get out of this chaotic situation. But CADIS came to the rescue; they helped us restore community relations and inspired us to strengthen our solidarity in this moment of crisis. If not for CADIS, we will surely not be here together since each one will try to find ways to survive. With all the goodness that CADIS has shared, we are resolved to continue our efforts until recovery.”
The most amazing and unique thing that happened considering the number of survivors and the limited resources that we brought, was that they decided among themselves who should avail of such help or assistance in public by nominating names of beneficiaries and betting them in public. The result was that everyone is satisfied. They hang on to their belief that the good/s of one is the good of everyone. This marks the great success of the program. It is not measured by the quantities and qualities of goods distributed but by its impact on the community.
