A technology from the Netherlands is transforming flood management in flood-prone areas of Kenya, not only protecting communities from levee breaches but also helping residents store water for use during dry seasons.
The water level of the Ngare Narok River is currently at a safe level, but in May of this year, it overflowed during heavy rains that swept across Kenya. While people were forced to embark on perilous journeys through flooded streets, some took advantage of new technology to safeguard their homes. These are large barriers made of black rubber, hollow inside to hold water, being used by residents living near rivers and streams as flood barriers.
Images of hollow rubber barriers used by Kenyan residents to block floodwaters and store water for irrigation during dry seasons. (Photo cut from AP clip)
Frederick Njuguna lives just 50 meters from the Ngare Narok River, but when the raging waters approached, they were halted by the flood barrier made of rubber walls, preventing water from flowing into his home. Sharing with AP news agency, Njuguna stated that without these water barriers, he could have faced damages exceeding 40 to 50 million Shillings (approximately 310,000 – 390,000 USD). However, the utility of the rubber barriers extends beyond flood prevention. When the rainy season ends, the barriers that previously blocked floods become a convenient and simple solution for the dry season. Instead of draining the water from the flood barriers, Njuguna can use a pump to extract the water contained within them to irrigate his plants, switching to the next barrier when the first one runs dry.
Another example of the effectiveness of flood barriers is the case of Fridah Nduuru, who is all too familiar with the devastation caused by floods. One Sunday, while at church, Nduuru received alarming news from a neighbor that her house in Buuri, Meru was flooding. Rushing home to save her belongings, she saw a torrent flowing down from the hill through her neighborhood, threatening her farm’s survival. But unlike before, Nduuru had now set up water barriers along the flow to divert water away from her home. These barriers were donated by the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV, a Dutch charitable fund), with each water barrier valued at approximately 250,000 Shillings (1,947 USD) upon import into Kenya. Since its installation, heavy rains have not been able to flood her home or destroy her property. “Now, I am safe and my house is no longer flooded,” Nduuru shared.
Watch the video of Kenyan residents using hollow rubber barriers to prevent floodwaters from damaging their homes, protecting their community, and storing water for irrigation during the dry season.
The water barriers used by Njuguna and Nduuru are constructed from heat-resistant rubber. Each barrier is designed to be 5 meters long, 1.5 meters wide, and 1 meter high, with a capacity of 8,000 liters of water per barrier. To ensure effectiveness, these water barriers must be placed closely together, forming a tight fence to block any gaps through which floodwaters could seep. Some barriers are positioned near rivers to protect the local community, as it has been observed that in extreme cases, river water levels can rise more than 1 meter above normal, and the presence of water barriers can raise riverbanks by an additional 1.5 meters, preventing water from inundating communities, villages, and farms.
