Wajir County has stepped up preparations to mitigate the anticipated effects of enhanced rainfall expected during the October-November-December (OND) season, with authorities warning of possible flooding, disease outbreaks and disruption of transport and food supplies.
Speaking after a county steering group meeting, National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) County Drought Coordinator Omar Abdi said stakeholders had developed contingency measures targeting key sectors, including livestock, agriculture, water, health and nutrition, humanitarian response and food security.
Abdi said the county was particularly concerned about the possibility of roads becoming impassable, disruption of commodity supplies and increased cases of waterborne and vector diseases affecting both humans and livestock.
“We established that there could be adverse impacts on transportation and increased incidence of diseases among livestock and the human population. There could also be a possibility of major food and commodities not reaching Wajir County,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to pre-position essential supplies before the onset of the rains to ensure continuity of services in case roads and transport corridors are disrupted.
Abdi said the rains were expected to begin around the second or third week of October and continue until the first or second week of December, with forecasts indicating above-normal rainfall during the period.
He called on households to take preventive measures, including clearing drainage channels around homes, protecting wells and house foundations, maintaining cleanliness and ensuring gutters are in good condition to prevent floodwater from entering houses.
“The larger responsibility lies within households. We are requesting communities across Wajir County to put measures in place to mitigate the negative impact of floods,” he said.
County Director for Disaster Management Abdikadir Hussein Alasow said the county had identified vulnerable areas and was implementing measures to improve preparedness before the onset of the rains.
He said efforts would focus on keeping roads passable, clearing drainage systems within Wajir Municipality and ensuring major transport corridors remain motorable.
“We are looking at making sure that the roads are passable and putting measures in place to unblock the drainage system within Wajir Municipality,” Alasow said.
He said the county was also preparing for possible outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, particularly Rift Valley fever, which affects livestock and can be transmitted to humans.
“We are looking at vaccinating our animals before the rainy season and pre-positioning food items and emergency medical supplies in our hospitals before the forecasted rains,” he said.
Kenya Red Cross Society Wajir County Coordinator Suleiman Saney Abdinur said the organisation had shifted from early warning to early action in preparation for the expected heavy rains.
He said Red Cross volunteers had been mobilised and sensitised across the county’s sub-counties, while flood-prone hotspots had been mapped in collaboration with the county and national governments.
“As we are expecting enhanced rainfall in October, Kenya Red Cross is moving from early warning to early action,” Abdinur said.
He added that essential supplies were being pre-positioned in identified hotspots and community alert systems strengthened to ensure timely response in areas likely to be affected by flooding.
Meanwhile, the county meteorological department has forecast above-normal rainfall during the OND season, although officials cautioned residents against comparing the expected rains with the 1997 El Niño rains.
The meteorological outlook takes into account both Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean conditions, with officials noting that the current indicators do not point to a repeat of the 1997 rainfall event.
Authorities have urged residents, especially those living in flood-prone areas, to remain alert and undertake early preparedness measures as the county continues to strengthen its response mechanisms ahead of the rainy season.
By Hamdi Buthul
