Each year, floods occur in various regions of the world. “Recently, torrential rains caused severe flooding in China, Germany, Belgium, and the UK. Buildings collapsed, cars were swept away, and lives were lost.
By July 20, reports estimated at least 196 deaths—165 in Germany and 31 in Belgium—with numbers expected to rise as rains continued. Floods also hit cities in Russia, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK. Floodlist labeled July as one of the worst months on record, with over 920 deaths worldwide from landslides, flash floods, and other rain-related disasters.
Africa is not on the sidelines. Our Neighbors Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia and even as far as Chad, Senegal and Ghana experienced flooding this year. But different places worldwide are expected to experience flooding to some extent as the rainy season continues.
In Kenya, we have had our share of incidents linked to rain. Kenya, to be precise, close to 40,000 families were left homeless, their houses flooded by the long rains in the early months of 2021.
In April, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reported flooding events in Tana, Busia, Kisumu, Garissa and Marsabit counties. According to the organization, the hardest-hit areas included Tana River (3,864 displaced), Homa Bay (2,046), Kisumu (7,704), Busia (4,056) and Migori (5,022).
Reasons behind the flooding
Extreme rains
Extreme rains in a short time cause rainwater to rapidly rise, causing flooding, which is a problem for everyone, including the government.
Global warming and climate change
Global warming is an increasing threat in Kenya because of its climate-changing impacts. Different studies predict that the average temperature may increase in the 21st Century affecting the weather patterns, including rainfalls. The ever-changing climate often leads to increased cases of flooding, undermining the economy.
Overflowing rivers and broken dams
In Kenya, sometimes flooding comes due to overflowing rivers and broken river banks and dams and not heavy rains. Extreme rains usually cause overland flow that exceeds the rivers and dam capacity, therefore increasing the likelihood of broken river and dam banks and flooding.
Poor drainage systems
In Nairobi, for example, the city experiences flash floods from time to time because of poor drainage systems. When rains come, the drainage system cannot handle the load and eventually collapses, leading to flooding.
How Flooding can damage your structure.
Floods cause severe damage by weakening building foundations and structural integrity, often leading to collapse. Fast-moving water exerts pressure on the perimeter, compromising the structure, while floodwater seeps deep into the foundation, shifting load-bearing elements and causing cracks or breaks.
Beyond structural harm, flooding also poses serious electrical and gas risks. To prevent these dangers, building a flood-resilient home is essential for long-term safety and stability.
Building for flood resilience in Kenya
In response to the menace, it is a good idea to follow the preventive measures and find solutions that will help deal with the complexities and uncertainties associated with floods.
All too often around Kenya, builders put houses too deep into the ground, causing drainage nightmares. We cannot adapt to flooding, but we can certainly reduce the risk. Elevation of your structure above flooding heights is a method that can protect your house against flooding.
This method relies on science to minimize risk for everyone. Elevating a building above the surrounding landscape raises the house slab, allowing the ground to slope away and prevent water accumulation. This, in turn, help prevent the overland water that hits up against your home from causing flooding.
According to the Kenya building code, “A few inches of your building foundation should be exposed above the soil around a home. The ground around the structure must then tilt away from the foundation and fall at least a few inches in the first horizontal feet of run. This will create a Swale or trough, so water does not come crashing against the house.”
These guidelines serve as the industry’s minimum standards set by reputable organizations. Therefore, it is best to have more fall so the water never runs up against the foundation.
conclusion
Floods submerge both new and previously safe areas, posing a serious threat, especially in flood-prone regions.
Despite Kenya’s building codes and regulations, many structures remain vulnerable due to poor flood-resilient construction practices. As a result, floods continue to disrupt the construction industry.
To mitigate flood risks, planning must start early. Instead of relying solely on engineering solutions, builders should focus on proper design, material selection, and strategic location to minimize damage and enhance structural resilience across Kenya.