Heavy rains across the country have devastated farms, resulted in livestock deaths, and displaced hundreds of people.
The flooding has heightened concerns about food production for the current planting season.
The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) reports that at least 381 households have suffered, with approximately 56 hectares of farmland destroyed in Kisumu and Homa Bay counties due to flooding that began in early March.
The KRCS indicated that the Sondu-Miriu River overflowed in Wang’chieng ward, inundating farms and homes in Kobala and Kobuya.
“About 56 hectares of farmland in the Wang’chieng area alone have been submerged,” the Red Cross detailed in its situation update from March 7 to March 9, 2026.
Farmers in the affected regions report total loss of maize and vegetable crops, with topsoil washed away, leaving fields waterlogged and difficult to replant.
In Mai Mahiu and nearby areas, some farmers have lost greenhouse investments as floodwaters submerged their structures.
The flooding has also damaged rural access roads, complicating transport for farmers and increasing the risk of post-harvest losses.
In Othaya, Nyeri county, residents face significant losses after an overflowing water trench destroyed homes and crops following heavy rains.
Several low-lying households reported floodwaters sweeping through farms and homes at night, ruining gardens and young maize fields.
Residents stated that the trench, which channels runoff during heavy rains, overflowed after continuous downpours, flooding nearby homes and farms.
“I woke up to find water flowing into my house and my farm completely flooded,” shared one affected resident.
“My vegetables were washed away, and my maize crop now lies flat.”
The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) had previously warned that the March–April–May (MAM) long rains would bring heavy downpours, particularly in the Lake Victoria Basin, parts of the Rift Valley, and Central Kenya.
KMD and the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) noted that these heavy rains followed the failed October–December 2025 short rains, leaving over two million people food insecure and making farmers increasingly vulnerable to sudden weather changes.
Agriculture officials emphasize that excessive rainfall at the season’s start can be as damaging as drought, as waterlogging hinders root development and leads to nutrient leaching, soil erosion, and delays in land preparation and planting.
Livestock farmers, especially in the North Rift and western Kenya, report losses as floodwaters swept away animals and exposed them to disease outbreaks linked to stagnant water.
Veterinary experts warn that flooding raises the risk of water-borne and vector-borne diseases, including Rift Valley Fever, due to increased humidity and mosquito breeding.
Crop and livestock insurers caution that ongoing heavy rains may lead to increased claims.
The Agriculture and Climate Risk Enterprise (ACRE Africa), a leading agricultural insurance provider in Kenya, stated that extreme weather events like floods increasingly threaten farmers.
“Flooding can destroy crops, wash away seeds, and affect pasture for livestock,” the organization noted in a recent climate risk update.
“In seasons with excessive rainfall, we typically see a rise in insurance notifications from farmers.”
ACRE Africa highlights that climate variability poses significant risks to smallholder farmers and encourages the adoption of weather-indexed crop insurance and climate-smart farming practices.
Meanwhile, the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations reported widespread disruptions, including fatalities, house destruction, road closures, and transport interruptions near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi as of March 9, 2026.
The Kiambu county emergency committee urges residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas, particularly near riparian zones, to stay alert and relocate to safer areas if necessary.
The Kenya Red Cross continues its rapid assessments and emergency response in affected counties, including Nairobi, Kisumu, Homa Bay, and parts of Central Kenya.
With saturated soils and more rainfall expected, the humanitarian agency warns of a high risk of further flooding, urging farmers and residents in low-lying areas to take precautionary measures.
The MET forecast predicts showers and thunderstorms in Nairobi and parts of southeastern Kenya over the next 48 hours, raising concerns that damage to farms and rural livelihoods could worsen if the rains persist.
