Kenya’s flood response shows the promise — and limits — of ‘One Health’

For 42-year-old Abdinasir Ibrahim, a resident of Bora-Imani village in Garsen, Kenya’s coastal region, the flooding following the long rains of March to May 2024 remains vivid in his mind. The rains pounded day and night, and the nearby Tana River burst its banks, flooding his village, Garsen town, and many other settlements along the river.

His two children, aged 2 and 4 at the time, developed diarrhea and started vomiting. He took them to nearby Garsen Sub-County Hospital, where they were diagnosed with cholera, a disease that was sweeping through the county like wildfire. The hospital was overwhelmed, with some patients being treated outdoors. Ibrahim was lucky to have both his children admitted inside the facility.

Flooding in Tana River County has become more frequent and intense in recent years as climate change accelerates. In 2024, thousands of residents were displaced and cholera spread across the county.