Since March, over 200 people in Kenya have lost their lives, and thousands have been forced to flee due to heavy rains. As Cyclone Hidaya approaches, the situation may worsen, leading to more displacements.
The downpours and flash floods that began in mid-March have claimed more than 200 lives in Kenya, according to the country's Interior Ministry. In the last 24 hours alone, 22 more deaths were reported.
Kenya and its neighbor Tanzania have been grappling with destructive flooding and relentless rains since the start of the rainy season. Tanzania has reported approximately 155 deaths due to the severe weather.
Kenyan President William Ruto expressed concern, stating, "Sadly, we have not seen the last of this perilous period, as the situation is expected to escalate. Meteorological reports paint a dire picture."
Both countries are now preparing for the impact of Cyclone Hidaya, a powerful storm expected to hit Tanzania on Saturday. Tanzanian authorities announced that Hidaya had strengthened into a full-fledged cyclone earlier in the day, about 400 kilometers (248 miles) away from the coastal city of Mtwara. With wind speeds of around 130 kilometers per hour, the cyclone is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and large ocean waves.
In Kenya, the government has issued evacuation orders for people living near 178 dams and reservoirs that are at capacity or near capacity. This has resulted in the displacement of over 165,000 individuals, with 90 people reported missing as of Friday.
Schools, which were supposed to reopen this week, have had their reopening postponed by a week by the Education Ministry. Displaced individuals are currently residing in schools, awaiting relocation to camps.
The heavy rains have also affected hundreds of people in Burundi, Ethiopia, and Somalia.