Residents of Budalangi in Busia County have called on the government, county authorities, and humanitarian organizations to include mental health support in preparations for the expected El Niño rains.
Speaking in Budalangi, Agatha Wanzala said flood preparedness should not focus only on dykes, evacuation centers, relief food, and rescue operations. She said many residents continue to carry the emotional scars of previous floods that destroyed homes, interrupted schooling, and swept away livelihoods.
Budalangi is among the areas most vulnerable to flooding when the Nzoia River bursts its banks after heavy rainfall in the wider catchment area. For many families, warnings of possible heavy rains bring anxiety and painful memories of hurried evacuations, nights in temporary camps, and uncertainty over food, safety, and the future.
Wanzala said children, women, elderly residents, and families that have been displaced repeatedly require special attention. She urged authorities to deploy counsellors, community health workers, and trained volunteers to help residents manage stress and trauma before, during, and after any flooding.
The residents also called for early warning messages to reach villages in good time, evacuation centers to be prepared before the rains intensify, and essential supplies such as food, clean water, medicine, and sanitary items to be positioned closer to vulnerable communities.
They further appealed for the strengthening and maintenance of dykes along flood-prone sections of the Nzoia River, as well as the clearing of drainage channels and identification of safe evacuation routes.
The call comes as Kenya prepares for a potentially wetter season, with weather and disaster-response agencies urging communities in flood-prone regions to take preventive action early.
For Budalangi residents, preparedness will only be complete if it protects not only lives but also the mental well-being of people who have endured the cycle of flooding for years.
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