By Abdullahi Lukman
Torrential rains and flash floods in Kenya have killed dozens of people and displaced more than 30,000, intensifying concerns about climate change and the continent’s readiness for recurring disasters.
Since early March, heavy rainfall has battered areas including Nairobi and Nyakach, destroying homes, wiping out crops and forcing residents in low-lying regions to flee.
The crisis highlights increasing vulnerability across East Africa, where extreme weather patterns—marked by cycles of drought and intense rainfall—are becoming more frequent.
Experts say climate change is playing a significant role in the rising intensity of such events. Prof. Dewald van Niekerk, head of the African Centre for Disaster Studies at North-West University, noted that warming global temperatures are contributing to heavier downpours and heightened flood risks across the region.
He explained that the trend is not simply about more or less rainfall, but greater variability and more destructive weather extremes.
Recent climate assessments support this view, projecting a rise in both the frequency and severity of heavy rainfall across much of Africa. However, specialists emphasize that environmental factors alone do not explain the scale of the disaster.
According to Prof. van Niekerk, the impact of floods is often worsened by human and structural challenges, including rapid urbanisation, settlement in flood-prone areas and inadequate infrastructure. These factors, combined with governance gaps, can turn severe weather into large-scale humanitarian crises.
The floods have also reignited discussions on climate justice. Although African nations contribute minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, they continue to suffer disproportionate consequences from climate-related disasters.
This imbalance, experts argue, places responsibility on more industrialised nations to provide financial and technical support for adaptation, disaster response and emissions reduction.
Prof. van Niekerk stressed that such assistance should be viewed as part of global climate obligations rather than charity, particularly in funding early-warning systems, resilient infrastructure and emergency response strategies.
The recurring nature of flooding in Kenya has further raised concerns about long-term planning. Experts warn that seasonal floods should no longer be treated as unexpected events but as predictable risks requiring proactive management.
They recommend improved land-use planning, stronger drainage systems, expanded early-warning networks and relocation strategies for communities in high-risk areas.
Long-term investment in infrastructure, environmental management and social protection is also seen as essential to reducing future impacts.
With heavy rains expected to persist in parts of East Africa, specialists caution that without stronger climate adaptation and disaster preparedness measures, similar disasters are likely to occur more frequently, increasing pressure on governments and humanitarian agencies.
