Background & Goal

Flood control Kenya requires more than infrastructure alone. In Rumuruti, Laikipia County, WaveSave combined hydrodynamic modelling, local training, and the deployment of SLAMDAM to reduce flood risk and protect critical infrastructure during real flood events.

During the 2023–2024 El Niño seasons, communities across Kenya faced severe threats from intense rainfall and devastating runoffs. With the Kenyan Meteorological Department (KMD) predicting a 90% chance of rainfall mirroring the catastrophic 1997 El Niño event, Laikipia and Isiolo Counties were on high alert. Prolonged heavy rains posed a direct risk to lives, property, agricultural livelihoods, and vital public health infrastructure.

In Rumuruti town, the headquarters of Laikipia County, the Ewaso Narok river is highly susceptible to overflowing its banks during extreme weather. Uncontrolled flood water in Kenya threatened to displace residents, submerge local businesses, and severely damage the local water treatment plant, which serves thousands of people. A similar threat loomed in Chumvi, Laikipia North, where heavy rainfall was pushing existing upstream dams to their spillways.

To proactively address these climate hazards, a coalition of international and local partners, including WaveSave, the development organisation SNV, and water data specialists Nelen & Schuurmans (N&S), launched a pioneering climate adaptation project. Supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, this initiative introduced a holistic approach to flood control in Kenya that paired predictive technology with rapid physical intervention.

Solution

To mitigate these risks, the project team implemented a three-pillar strategy focused on data, capacity building, and the rapid deployment of flood protection infrastructure.

A Three-Pillar Approach to Flood Resilience

1. Data-Driven Decision Support via Hydrodynamic Modelling
Effective flood risk reduction requires knowing exactly where the water will flow before the rain falls. Using advanced 3Di software, the team developed detailed hydrodynamic modelling to simulate extreme discharge scenarios along the Ewaso Narok River.

2. Capacity Building and Community Training
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the project, empowering local stakeholders was essential. Training focused on understanding flood flows, identifying early warning triggers, and mastering the practical setup of a water-filled flood barrier.

3. Rapid Deployment of Mobile Flood Barriers
Guided by the hydrodynamic models, the team deployed SLAMDAM, WaveSave’s innovative mobile flood barrier system. Made of highly durable, heat-resistant EPDM rubber, the modular SLAMDAM tubes were deployed in key risk zones.

Beyond Flood Control in Kenya: Water Storage and Smart Irrigation
A unique advantage of the SLAMDAM system is its dual functionality. While traditional sandbags are discarded after a disaster, a single 5-metre SLAMDAM unit acts as a high-capacity water storage system, holding approximately 8,000 litres of clean water.

Clients and Donors

The projecr received financial support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and local support from Laikipia and Isiolo Counties.

Location

Location: Rumuruti, Laikipia County, Kenya, along the Ewaso Narok River where the river system interacts with the surrounding swamp area near the town

Timeline: 2023 – 2024