Nairobi, Kenya, 27 March, 2026 — CARE is sounding the alarm as a rapidly escalating flood emergency sweeps across Kenya, compounding an already severe humanitarian crisis in parts of the country. Weeks of relentless heavy rains and flash floods have submerged entire villages, destroyed vital crops, and displaced tens of thousands, creating a high risk for cholera outbreaks, putting millions at even greater risk.
The flooding has struck western and central Kenya, including urban centers like Nairobi, with unprecedented intensity. Authorities report at least 88 lives lost and more than 70,000 people displaced as homes, markets, and infrastructure remain underwater, with many individuals still unaccounted for. In agricultural hubs like Kisumu, over 1,200 hectares of cropland have been wiped out, erasing the primary income and food sources for thousands of families.
“The situation is extremely worrying,” said Getrude Misango, Country Director of CARE Kenya. “Communities are being hit from both sides. First by years of drought, and now by destructive floods. We know from experience how quickly flooding can trigger cholera outbreaks. For people who were already struggling to grow enough food, watching their farms disappear underwater is heartbreaking. Their harvests are gone, their income has vanished, and the fear of how they will feed their children is growing by the day. With markets cut off, bridges washed away, and entire fields waterlogged, recovery will take months, perhaps longer, unless we act now to support them.”
Floodwaters have contaminated open water sources, latrines, and household storage systems, significantly increasing the chance of cholera outbreaks, diseases that surged during previous flood seasons in Kenya, including during the 2025 long rainy season period. CARE is especially concerned about densely populated areas where standing water and inadequate sanitation create a high-risk environment for rapid transmission.
While floods devastate the central regions, the Arid and Semi‑Arid Lands (ASALs) continue to suffer from a catastrophic lack of water. Over 3.3 million people are already facing acute food insecurity, including 400,000 in emergency (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification – IPC – Phase 4) conditions across counties such as Mandera, Turkana and Garissa. This dual crisis has seen up to 90% of open water sources in the Northeast dry up, even as other parts of the country are swallowed by water.
Looking ahead, the situation is projected to deteriorate even further. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report has warned, the situation in the ASAL counties is expected to worsen further between April and June 2026, with 3.7 million people projected to face IPC Acute Food Insecurity (AFI) Phase 3 or above during this period, driven by forecasted below‑average long rains and continued livelihood erosion. This escalating humanitarian emergency underscores the compounding nature of Kenya’s climate shocks, where devastating floods and deepening drought are unfolding simultaneously, amplifying needs across the country.
This deterioration in Kenya is unfolding at a time when humanitarian funding is declining, even as needs continue to rise exponentially. Despite these constraints, CARE is leveraging its local partnerships and has pre-positioned stocks of over two million water purification supplies to act and reduce escalating risks. CARE Kenya is well-positioned to reach vulnerable households and will be continuously assessing the evolving situation through rapid needs assessments to identify emerging gaps in shelter, water and sanitation, protection, and livelihoods and ensure that assistance reaches those most in need, as quickly as possible.
Immediate action is required to provide more than just basic survival; but to restore dignity and security to those displaced. Many households have also lost their sources of income and urgently require help to restart their livelihoods and support for small businesses. Communities further need rapid repairs to damaged water points, bridges, drainage systems, and key access routes so they can regain access to vital services and begin recovering.
Notes to the Editors
- CARE Kenya operates programs across several counties, including those affected by both flooding and drought. Its work focuses on strengthening community resilience to climate shocks, improving access to clean and safe water, supporting sustainable livelihoods, and advancing women and girls equality.
- CARE and its partners are conducting rapid needs assessments to determine the most urgent humanitarian priorities, including shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), protection, and livelihood support.
For media inquiries, please email usa.media@care.org, or contact Pauline Hurungudo, CARE East and Southern Africa, Regional Communications Advisor, email: Pauline.Hurungudo@care.org