More than 300 families in Tana River County have been forced out of their homes after heavy rain caused two dams in Tana Delta to overflow, sending water into villages and homesteads, the Kenya Red Cross said on Friday.

In an update on the situation, the humanitarian agency said 302 households had been displaced after the Tulu and Minjila dams burst their banks on Wednesday night. A further 3,156 households have been affected by the flooding, the society said, as response teams continued to assess the damage on the ground.

Relief reaches just over half of displaced families

According to the Red Cross, 175 of the displaced households have so far received emergency supplies from the county and national governments, including food, tarpaulins and blankets. The remaining families are expected to be reached as the assessment continues.

"Our teams remain on the ground alongside partners, assessing needs," the society said in its statement.

Photographs released by the Red Cross showed families wading through brown floodwater with their belongings, some carrying chickens and household items, while others gathered under trees on higher ground waiting for help.

Water crosses into Lamu

The flooding is not confined to Tana River. The Red Cross said water levels were also rising inside some homes in Hindi and Witu in neighbouring Lamu County, raising fears that more families along the coast could be displaced if the rains persist.

The affected parts of Tana Delta are low-lying and prone to flooding whenever the Tana River and nearby water pans fill up, cutting off roads and submerging farms that local communities depend on for food.

Rains break weeks of heat

The downpour comes after several weeks of unusually hot and dusty conditions in many parts of the country. The Kenya Meteorological Department had issued a severe weather alert covering October 24 to 28, warning that some areas could receive more than 20mm of rain within 24 hours.

The heaviest rain at the Coast fell between Monday and Wednesday night, leading to flooding in parts of the region. Elsewhere, the October-December short rains have been slow to establish, with many areas remaining hot and dry or receiving only patchy showers, though scattered thunderstorms have started in some regions.

Residents of flood-prone areas are being advised to move to higher ground and to avoid crossing flooded rivers and roads. Humanitarian agencies say the coming days will be critical as they work to reach the families still waiting for shelter materials and food.

Photos: Kenya Red Cross via The Star; Capital FM. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.