The Kenyan government has mandated evacuations for people residing near 178 dams and reservoirs, due to ongoing heavy rainfall.
The interior ministry has issued a warning that these water bodies are either full or nearly full and could overflow at any moment, presenting significant risks to nearby communities.
Residents living close to these areas, as well as those within a 30-meter (98-foot) wetland corridor of the Nairobi River, have been given a 24-hour notice starting from 18:30 local time on Thursday to vacate.
Recent torrential rains have triggered severe flooding and landslides throughout Kenya and Tanzania, leading to considerable casualties.
Since March, 188 people have lost their lives in Kenya, and another 90 are missing, as per the latest official figures. In Tanzania, 155 people have died.
A devastating mudslide near Mai Mahiu, Kenya, claimed the lives of at least 50 people as they slept. The capital, Nairobi, has also experienced flooding.
Authorities anticipate that conditions may deteriorate further with the forecast of more severe weather.
“Crucially, the coastal region is likely to experience Cyclone Hidaya, which will result in heavy rainfall, large waves and strong winds that could affect marine activities in the Indian Ocean,” the office of Kenyan President William Ruto said.
The Kenyan meteorological department said Nairobi is expected to be among the areas worst affected by the storm.
The interior ministry said the situation “could get dire because the soils around the country are fully saturated” with water.
The ministry emphasized that evacuations should commence at 06:00 on Friday, rather than during the nighttime hours.
Temporary shelters, along with food and essential supplies for evacuees, will be available at designated assembly points, according to the ministry.
The evacuation order includes areas surrounding the Nairobi Dam and Titanic Dam. Additionally, buildings within the Nairobi River wetland area are slated for removal, stated the interior ministry.
The total number of people impacted by the evacuation directive remains uncertain.
The Kenyan government has been critiqued for its delayed response to the ongoing natural disaster.
President Ruto defended his administration in a BBC interview on Monday, stating that a comprehensive government response is in progress.
After a cabinet meeting on Thursday, President Ruto’s office reported that flood victims were increasingly receiving both food and non-food assistance and attributed the severe weather conditions to climate change.
“[The] cabinet resolved that the government, from now on, will rally the country in implementing measures, programmes and policies that will mitigate the effects of climate change,” it pledged.
One of the biggest drivers of the rains is the Indian Ocean Dipole – opposing areas of warm and cold surface water often refered to as the “Indian Niño” because of its similarity to El Niño in the Pacific.
Warmer surface temperatures caused by climate change pushes more moisture and energy into the atmosphere, making weather patterns more erratic and severe.