Govt Orders Kenyans In These Flood Prone Areas To Evacuate Immediately
Residents in the affected areas have been urged to put their safety first and follow government instructions without hesitation.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The government, through the Ministry of Interior, has ordered the immediate evacuation of people living downstream of the Kiambere Dam due to the risk of severe flooding after continuous heavy rains in the Mt. Kenya and Aberdare catchment areas.
In a statement on Friday, Internal Security Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo warned that the Kiambere Dam, being the last in the Seven Forks hydropower system, has gone past its full capacity, posing a serious threat to communities below.
He urged residents in Garissa, Hola, Garsen, and the wider Lower Tana River region to relocate to higher ground, as they are at the greatest risk.
A section of the Kiambere Dam along River Tana overflowing after heavy rains. /CITIZEN DIGITAL
“Under the prevailing circumstances, we hereby issue an immediate voluntary evacuation directive to all communities living downstream of the multipurpose reservoir,” stated PS Omollo.
“Residents living downstream and those within the proximity of the spillway zones, particularly those in Garissa and Tana River counties, are at greater risk. We urge these communities to move to higher ground without delay.”
The Interior PS said emergency measures are in motion, with teams from KenGen, the National Disaster Operations Centre, and local Disaster Response Committees working together on the evacuation process.
He added that the Kenya Red Cross Society and the Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS) are on standby for any rescue missions.
Referring to a recent forecast from the Kenya Meteorological Department, which predicts rainfall from Friday through Tuesday, he emphasised the need for vigilance due to possible flooding and the importance of closely tracking water inflow and reservoir levels at the Masinga, Kamburu, Gitaru, and Kindaruma Dams.
“KenGen is also undertaking other precautionary measures, key among them controlled spillages, to safeguard the structural integrity of the reservoirs. To avert potential loss of life, we are deploying all available resources in coordination with local government administrators (NGAOs), who are actively securing temporary shelters in public schools, churches, and other designated government facilities,” added Dr. Omollo.
“Public health officials are also mobilising humanitarian support mechanisms to provide immediate relief and safe refuge for affected families.” Residents in the affected areas have been urged to put their safety first and follow government instructions without hesitation.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Meteorological Department has forecast continued rainfall across various parts of the country over the next five days, starting Friday through Tuesday.
In an advisory released on Friday, May 16, the department said the rains would mainly affect the Highlands, both East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, and parts of the Rift Valley.
Counties in the Eastern Highlands expected to receive rain include Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang'a, Kiambu, Meru, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, and Nairobi.
Kenya Met noted that the rainfall in these areas will be moderate, typically starting in the afternoon after cloudy mornings.
Flooded roads across Nairobi CBD after heavy rains on May 11, 2025. /X
