Over 70 families displaced by floods in Tana River – Kenya Red Cross
By Cynthia Lodite, May 5, 2026The Kenya Red Cross has announced that at least seventy families have been displaced by flooding in Tana River County.
In a statement on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the Red Crescent announced that the displaced families are from Bakuyu village and are currently sheltering at Water Grounds camp near the Garissa IEBC offices.
“More than 70 families displaced by flooding from Bakuyu village are currently sheltering at Water Grounds camp near the Garissa IEBC offices,” Kenya Red Cross stated.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, the number of families displaced is expected to rise as River Tana continues to swell, forcing more families to flee their homes.
In addition, the Kenya Red Cross has called for urgent support in providing shelter, food and other essential items to the families.
“The number is expected to rise as River Tana continues to swell, forcing more families to flee their homes.Support is urgently needed to provide shelter, food and other essential items,” Red Cross added.
Garissa, Tana River Dam levels surge
The Red Cross remarks come five days after the Government Spokesperson, Isaac Mwaura, warned of flooding risk in Garissa and Tana River Counties.
At the time, Mwaura confirmed that as of the evening of April 28, 2026, at around 20:00 hours, Masinga Dam was reported as full, prompting controlled water releases to prevent damage.
He noted that the developments have heightened the risk of flooding downstream, particularly in Garissa and Tana River counties.
However, the government, through the National Disaster Operation Centre (NDOC) and relevant agencies said that it continues to closely monitor the situation while coordinating preparedness and response efforts.
In addition, residents in low-lying areas, especially in Garissa and Tana River counties, are strongly urged to move to higher ground immediately to protect lives and property.
Local authorities and community leaders were called upon to widely disseminate the information and facilitate safe evacuations as necessary.
Similarly, Kamburu, Gitaru and Kindaruma dams have been actively regulated to maintain safe operational levels.
These measures are critical to safeguard the structural integrity of the dams, especially given the substantial inflows from the Aberdares and Mount Kenya regions.
At the same time, the government has announced that Kiambere Dam will begin spilling within the next five days due to continued inflows.