Tana River County Launches Eco-Villages to Protect Thousands from Rising Flood Threat
April 17, 2025
Tana River County has embarked on an ambitious resettlement programme to relocate thousands of residents from flood-prone riverbanks to newly established eco-villages on higher ground, marking one of Kenya’s largest climate adaptation initiatives. The move follows years of destructive flooding that has displaced families, swept away villages, and disrupted livelihoods along the Tana River.
For generations, communities such as the Pokomo, Orma, and Wardey have lived in harmony with the river’s seasonal floods, relying on flood-recession agriculture for food and income. But with climate change intensifying rainfall patterns and increasing water releases from upstream dams, floods have become more severe and unpredictable. In 2022 alone, the county lost 51 schools, 127 hectares of farmland, and 11 lives to the raging waters. By December 2023, nearly half a million Kenyans nationwide had been displaced.
County officials say the worsening crisis demanded bold solutions. Governor Gadae Dhadho Godhana spearheaded a master plan for 42 cluster villages—integrated settlements equipped with schools, health centres, clean water, sanitation, and safer housing. We have spent more than Sh800 million responding to floods in recent years. With every major disaster, more homes and infrastructure are destroyed. We had to rethink our approach, said County Executive for Housing Mwanajuma Mabuke.
So far, 14 cluster villages are active, and more than 5,000 allotment letters have been issued to relocated families. Residents now own 30-by-30-metre plots, offering a sense of permanence long absent from their flood-ravaged homelands. However, the county acknowledges that funding gaps remain, with over 5,000 households still in need of improved housing.
The initiative has attracted strong partnerships from development organisations. Habitat for Humanity Kenya and Better Shelter have launched a shelter pilot programme using locally sourced materials such as mud bricks, coral stone, timber, and rammed earth. Fifteen test structures have already been built, prioritising families with disabilities, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups. Local artisans have been trained to ensure the shelters are durable and suited to the region’s climate.
Despite progress, challenges persist. Many families still walk long distances to the river to farm and fish, while others struggle with limited access to markets, water points, and health services. Disputes over ancestral land have also emerged as some return temporarily to low-lying areas during the dry season. Wildlife displacement caused by floods—bringing elephants, crocodiles, and hippos closer to settlements—continues to pose safety threats, especially at night.
Yet, county leaders remain optimistic. This programme is about more than relocation—it is about building resilient communities and securing a dignified future for our people, said Mabuke. With continued government and donor support, Tana River County hopes to scale up the eco-village model and offer long-term security to thousands of households living under the constant threat of rising waters.