Most of the population along the Tana River lives in flood-prone areas and relies on the river for their livelihoods through farming. But when seasonal floods hit, they destroy food crops and infrastructure and force families to flee to dry, higher ground without adequate facilities.
In 2020 alone, flooding affected 38,000 families from 55 villages, 11 trading centres, and several schools. The rains in 2023 and 2024 have made the situation more challenging, destroying important infrastructure and houses and displacing thousands of people from their homes.
In 2021, Habitat for Humanity Kenya partnered with the Tana River County government to improve safe living conditions by building secure and stable shelters from 2021 to 2026, among other activities.
Together, we have piloted our shelters as transitional structures that families can eventually convert into permanent homes using local materials. We trained 20 artisans to assist in assembling and installing the shelters. During the pilot, they built 15 RHU Structures, incorporating traditional local materials such as rammed earth and unburnt bricks to make the shelters safe, durable, and comfortable.
These homes protect families from harsh weather, offering a stable place to live and build resilience.
We are now working with our partners to expand this shelter program to support more families.
