Tana River Secures Sh500 Million to Combat Worsening Flood Crisis
Tana River County has received Sh500 million from the national government to support emergency flood mitigation efforts as heavy El Niño rains continue to devastate the region. Governor Major (Rtd) Dhadho Godhana said the funding will help scale up humanitarian assistance for thousands of families affected after River Tana burst its banks, submerging villages and cutting off major roads. The county is struggling to cope with the humanitarian emergency, with more than 10,000 residents already displaced and seeking refuge in makeshift camps across Garsen, Galole, Bura, Waldena and Bangale.
Speaking in Hola Town, the governor warned that the situation is deteriorating rapidly as nearly all access routes have collapsed under persistent floods. He noted that Hola—the county headquarters—can now only be reached through the Mombasa route, with other key links such as Garissa, Nairobi, Masalani, and Wayu completely impassable. The governor appealed for at least two helicopters to assist in airlifting relief food and medical supplies to stranded families in remote villages that can no longer be reached by road. He cautioned that food stocks could be depleted within days due to supply disruptions caused by washed-out roads.
Godhana said several villages in the Tana Delta Sub-County, including Asa Kone, Haboye Titila, Kone Kaliki, and Matolani Hawewanje, are now completely inaccessible. He described the ongoing flooding as one of the worst humanitarian emergencies the county has faced in recent years, stressing that continuous rainfall over the past two weeks has overwhelmed local response capacity. Many residents who depend on supply chains from Hola are now worried about imminent shortages of food and essential commodities.
Tana River Kenya National Chamber of Commerce chairperson Hassan Barissa echoed the concerns, warning that the blockade of major roads is threatening both business operations and access to life-saving supplies. He urged the national government and development partners to accelerate road repairs to restore movement of goods to towns like Hola, Garsen, and Bura. With fears growing over shortages of food and medicine, local leaders are calling for coordinated interventions to prevent the crisis from escalating further. The county government says it will continue working closely with national agencies to stabilize the situation as long-term solutions to River Tana’s recurring floods are sought.