Rising Waters, Refusal to Budge: Why Garissa Flood Victims Stay Put

Life in the floodplains of the Tana River has become a cycle of survival and stubborn persistence. As the river repeatedly breaches its banks, sending murky brown water into homes and businesses, the expected mass exodus to safety has failed to materialize.

In Garissa and neighboring Tana River counties, hundreds of residents are choosing to stay in designated danger zones. This defiance comes despite urgent government directives and the visible destruction of infrastructure across the region.

For many, the decision is not one of ignorance, but of economic necessity. Abandoning a home often means leaving behind every asset a family owns. Looting is a constant fear, and the temporary camps set up for the displaced are often viewed as inadequate.

One resident, holding onto a partially submerged wooden structure, explained that moving to higher ground often means losing livestock or the small plots of land that provide their only income. To them, the risk of the water is a known entity, while the uncertainty of a displacement camp is a greater threat.

The psychological tie to ancestral land also plays a significant role. Families who have lived by the river for generations feel a deep connection to the soil, even when that soil is buried under several feet of water.

Government officials and humanitarian agencies like the Kenya Red Cross have expressed increasing frustration. They argue that the cost of rescue operations far exceeds the cost of preventive relocation. When the water rises rapidly at night, those who refused to move earlier often find themselves trapped on rooftops.

From a planning perspective, the encroachment on riparian land has complicated flood management. Informal settlements and small-scale farms have replaced natural flood buffers, ensuring that even moderate rainfall leads to significant property damage.

The local administration has pointed out that while President Ruto has emphasized the need for climate resilience and the protection of life, enforcement of evacuation orders remains a challenge on the ground. Police and local chiefs are often met with resistance when trying to clear high-risk areas.

Infrastructure in the region, including roads and bridges, has suffered under the weight of the deluge. Large sections of the main highways connecting Garissa to the coast have been cut off, hampering the delivery of aid and essential supplies to those who have stayed behind.

Health experts are now raising the alarm over waterborne diseases. With latrines flooded and clean water sources contaminated, the risk of cholera and typhoid is climbing. For those living in the middle of the floodwaters, accessing medical care is becoming nearly impossible.

The situation remains a stalemate between the forces of nature and the determination of a population with nowhere else to go. Until long-term housing solutions are provided on higher ground, the cycle of flooding and refusal is likely to continue every rainy season.