MANDERA, Kenya – The County Government of Mandera is stepping up preparations for the expected heavy rains during the projected El-Niño season.
The county municipality intensified measures including drainage works, clearing waterways and strengthening vulnerable riverbanks to reduce the risk of flash flooding.
Measures to curb El-Niño effects
In a statement seen by news9.africa, Mandera Municipal Manager Motker Mohamed Noor said the proactive measures are aimed at ensuring the town’s drainage system is able to cope with increased stormwater and protecting communities and property in areas that have previously experienced flooding and erosion.
Noor noted that the municipality has prioritised early interventions in flood-prone areas, including the clearing and desilting of culverts and improvement of existing drainage infrastructure.
“The Municipality has undertaken protection works along the two main existing riparian areas. We have also undertaken stepped gabion protection works along Busle streams,” Noor said.
The gabion structures are intended to control stream-bank erosion, which has previously threatened neighbouring properties along the Busle streams.
The municipality identified Bulla Barwaqo, Bulla Township and Bulla Green as some of the area’s most vulnerable to flash floods.
Bulla Barwaqo is exposed to floodwater originating from across the border in Somalia, while Bulla Township can receive runoff from Bulla Hawa. Bulla Green is similarly vulnerable to water flowing from Qarba Qoley.
To strengthen flood resilience in Bulla Barwaqo, the Municipality constructed a 650-metre trapezoidal drainage channel to improve the movement of stormwater and reduce flooding.
Routine maintenance of drainage infrastructure is also underway, including the cleaning and unclogging of culverts in Mandera Central Business District.
The municipal manager said the government is planning additional works to unclog, repair and maintain culverts and open side drains in areas where drainage capacity needs to be improved.
Roads serving critical public facilities and services, including markets, hospitals, schools and mosques, have also been prioritised, with plans to upgrade some roads to gravel standard to improve access during the rainy season.
Early action ahead of El-Niño
The county also encouraged residents to take early action at household level.
Residents have been cautioned against blocking natural waterways with makeshift barriers in an effort to keep floodwater away from their homes.
Noor said some residents have been using murram to construct barriers around their compounds, a practice that can obstruct natural water channels and potentially divert floodwater into neighbouring properties.
Residents intending to construct dykes, terraces, embankments or other flood-protection structures have therefore been advised to first seek technical guidance from the Municipality to ensure the interventions do not interfere with natural drainage.
The public has also been urged to avoid low-lying and flood-prone areas during heavy rainfall and to never attempt to cross fast-moving floodwater, either on foot or in vehicles.
Households have been encouraged to prepare ahead of the rains by inspecting and repairing roofs and making arrangements to protect children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
The preparedness drive comes as Mandera continues to face increasingly variable weather conditions.
Although the county is predominantly arid and semi-arid and has historically experienced prolonged drought and water scarcity, intense rainfall events can generate rapid runoff and flash floods, particularly where drainage capacity is limited.
Previous flooding episodes have highlighted the vulnerability of settlements located close to natural drainage channels and riparian areas.
The current interventions are therefore shifting the Municipality’s approach towards prevention and early action, with authorities working to address drainage bottlenecks, reinforce vulnerable areas and prepare residents before heavy rains arrive.
By undertaking maintenance and flood-control works ahead of major rainfall events, Mandera County is seeking to reduce damage to homes and infrastructure while ensuring essential services and road access can be maintained during periods of heavy rain.
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