Kenya faces a severe water, sanitation, and hygiene crisis following devastating floods during the March-May 2025 rainy season. The flooding destroyed over 1,400 shallow wells and extensive water infrastructure, forcing communities across multiple counties to rely on unsafe water sources. Currently, only 29% of the population has access to basic sanitation services, while 9.9 million people drink directly from contaminated water and 5 million practice open defecation.
The infrastructure collapse has triggered simultaneous health emergencies. A cholera outbreak linked to the flooding has spread across Kisumu, Migori, Nairobi, and Kwale counties, causing 256 suspected cases and 13 deaths. Meanwhile, an ongoing visceral leishmaniasis outbreak continues in arid regions, with 2,037 cumulative cases since 2020. The situation is particularly critical in Tana River and Garissa, where Kiambere Dam overflow has left over 3,600 displaced households without clean water access.
The humanitarian response addresses six key areas: emergency water trucking and storage, temporary sanitation adapted for vulnerable populations, hygiene kit distribution, disease surveillance through WHO-supported rapid response teams, community health volunteer engagement, and waste management in flood-affected areas. Immediate intervention is essential to rehabilitate water infrastructure, deploy emergency sanitation, contain disease outbreaks, and ensure inclusive access for persons with disabilities and elderly populations to prevent further public health deterioration.
