The Kenya Red Cross has launched nationwide assessments following severe flooding that has displaced families, destroyed homes, and disrupted livelihoods after several days of heavy rainfall across the country.
The humanitarian organization confirmed that emergency teams have been deployed to affected regions to evaluate the scale of displacement and identify households in urgent need of assistance, as rescue and relief operations continue.
Speaking on Citizen TV, Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Dr. Ahmed Idris said the organization’s immediate priority is to gather accurate information about the number of people displaced and those who may still be missing after the floods.
“Our concern now is getting the right information around the displacements, and that is why our teams are conducting assessments across the country,” Dr. Idris said.
According to the humanitarian agency, collecting reliable data is essential to coordinate emergency response efforts, including rescue operations, temporary shelter arrangements, and the distribution of relief supplies to affected communities.
Dr. Idris also urged members of the public to report individuals whose absence is unusual so that authorities and humanitarian agencies can begin tracing efforts as quickly as possible.
“We are making a specific appeal to Kenyans: if there are any family members who are missing, it is important that it is reported,” he said.
He clarified that a missing person refers to someone who cannot be physically located and whose disappearance is outside their normal routine.
“Missing does not mean you have called them on the phone and cannot reach them. It means you have tried to locate them physically and cannot find them, and their absence is outside the regular pattern of their lives,” he explained.
The Red Cross said early reporting significantly improves the chances of locating individuals who may have been separated from their families during the flooding.
Members of the public who suspect a loved one may be missing have been urged to contact the Kenya Red Cross through its emergency hotline 1199.
Parts of the country have experienced intense rainfall in recent days, triggering floods in several towns and settlements, particularly in low-lying and informal residential areas. In many places, residents have been forced to abandon their homes, while others remain stranded due to damaged roads and submerged pathways.
Emergency response teams from the Kenya Red Cross are working alongside government agencies and community volunteers to assess the situation, assist affected families, and provide first aid where necessary.
The organization said information gathered during the ongoing assessments will guide relief interventions and help determine the resources required to support displaced families in the coming days.
Authorities have confirmed that at least 23 people have died in Nairobi after overnight torrential rains triggered severe flooding across parts of the capital, highlighting the growing humanitarian impact of the ongoing weather conditions.
