FLOODING: REDUCING THE VULNERA-

BILITY OF BUILDING TO FLOOD IN

KENYA
Leave a Comment / Self-Build / By Bernice Kimani
Each year, floods occur in various regions of the world. Recently, countries
such as China, Germany, Belgium, and even the United Kingdom have been
hit by flooding because of the torrential rains. The buildings in these areas
were overwhelmed, the car washed away, and even people died.

For instance, according to reports, it is estimated that “At least 196 people had
died as of 20 July—165 in Germany and 31 in Belgium.” The number was ex-
pected to increase as the rains continued.
Other cities in Russia, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom
were impacted by the floods too. In what the Floodlist calls “one of the worst
months on record’, it is estimated that over 920 people died due to landslides,
flash floods and other rain-related incidents worldwide in July.

Africa is not on the sidelines. Our Neighbors Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan, South
Sudan, Somalia and even as far as Chad, Senegal and Ghana experienced
flooding this year. But different places worldwide are expected to experience
flooding to some extent as the rainy season continues.

In Kenya, we have had our share of incidents linked to rain. In Kenya, to be

precise, close to 40,000 families were left homeless, their houses flooded by
the long rains in the early months of 2021.

In April, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(IFRC) reported flooding events in Tana, Busia, Kisumu, Garissa and Marsabit
counties. According to the organization, the hardest-hit areas included Tana
River (3,864 displaced), Homa Bay (2,046), Kisumu (7,704), Busia (4,056)
and Migori (5,022).

Reasons behind the flooding

Extreme rains

Extreme rains in a short time cause rainwater to rapidly rise, causing flooding,
which is a problem for everyone, including the government.

Global warming and climate change

Global warming is an increasing threat in Kenya because of its climate-chang-

ing impacts. Different studies predict that the average temperature may in-
crease in the 21st Century affecting the weather patterns, including rainfalls.
The ever-changing climate often leads to increased cases of flooding, under-
mining the economy.

Overflowing rivers and broken dams

In Kenya, sometimes flooding comes due to overflowing rivers and broken

river banks and dams and not heavy rains. Extreme rains usually cause over-
land flow that exceeds the rivers and dam capacity, therefore increasing the
likelihood of broken river and dam banks and flooding.

Poor drainage systems

In Nairobi, for example, the city experiences flash floods from time to time be-
cause of poor drainage systems. When rains come, the drainage system can-
not handle the load and eventually collapses, leading to flooding.

How Flooding can damage your structure.

Damages to buildings due to floods occur due to many factors. Floods expose
the building to structural damages, weakening the foundation that holds the
structures together leading to severe damages or even collapse.

The harm from flooding comes from the speedy water entering your home.
The water pushes your home perimeter, weakening its structures. additionally,
flood water penetrates deep into the foundation causing loading bearing struc-
tures to shift and break, inflicting extreme damage to the foundation and the
structure.

Flooding can cause a host of other harm from electrical risk and gas risk. That
is why it is always important to build a flood resilience home.

Building for flood resilience in Kenya

In response to the menace, it is a good idea to follow the preventive measures

and find solutions that will help deal with the complexities and uncertainties
associated with floods.

All too often around Kenya, builders put houses too deep into the ground,
causing drainage nightmares. We cannot adapt to flooding, but we can cer-
tainly reduce the risk. Elevation of your structure above flooding heights is a
method that can protect your house against flooding.
 The ground around the structure must then tilt away.
There is a science in this method that needs to be taken into consideration to
reduce the risk for everyone. Elevating your building above the surrounding
landscape ensures the top of the house slab is high enough so the ground
around the entire home can be sloped away. This, in turn, help prevent the
overland water that hits up against your home from causing flooding.

According to the Kenya building code, “A few inches of your building founda-
tion should be exposed above the soil around a home. The ground around the
structure must then tilt away from the foundation and fall at least a few inches
in the first horizontal feet of run. This will create a Swale or trough, so water
does not come crashing against the house.”

It is crucial to realize these guidelines are just the minimum standards put by
respectable organizations in the industry. Therefore, it is best to have more fall
so the water never runs up against the foundation.

conclusion

Flooding is a destructive natural hazard. The floodwater can cover a particular

area with just a few inches of water or submerge the area. The previously safe
areas are now at risk and the known flood-prone areas are flooded time and
time again, which is a cause for concern.

Despite the existence of the Kenya building code, laws, strategies and regula-
tions, Kenyans have not adapted to building flood-resilient structures. The de-
structive natural hazard continues to threaten the construction industry in
Kenya and causing a lot of disruptions.
 Traditionally, the solutions may focus on the engineering and technical re-
sponses, but the solution should start as early as during the initial planning
and before implementation. Similarly, it is important to have comprehensive,
up-to-date information on how to use design your structure to anticipate and
mitigate floods. Adopting these techniques, coupled with the proper choice of
material and location, will significantly reduce the risk of flooding and help in
mitigating the adverse effects of floods on structures in Kenya.
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