Enhancing Kenya’s Flood Control with SLAMDAM Mobile Barriers and Hydrodynamic Modelling

In Rumuruti, WaveSave deployed mobile flood barriers to provide fast and effective protection against rising water levels.

SLAMDAM mobile flood barrier holding back brown floodwater among trees in Rumuruti, Kenya

Flood control solutions in Kenya are essential to reduce risks and protect vulnerable communities from increasing climate-related flooding.

Project Overview

Background & Goal

Rumuruti is prone to flooding due to heavy rainfall and limited drainage capacity. Rising water levels can quickly impact communities, infrastructure, and local economic activity. Traditional flood protection solutions are often too slow or costly to implement in such environments.

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 project 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

Project impact

Deploying mobile flood barriers in Kenya enables fast and effective protection against flooding.

Helped control flooding in Rumuruti during the April to May 2024 rains through a 150-metre SLAMDAM deployment
Reduced flood flows on the west side of the riverbank and helped avoid flooding at the water treatment plant
Protected 20 households, 20 homesteads, 120 people, and Fiesta Hotel from severe flooding in Rumuruti
Helped secure water availability for 4,000 people in Rumuruti town
Increased local awareness, operational experience, and demand for flood control measures in Laikipia, Isiolo, and Samburu

Why flood control was critical in Rumuruti

Flood control was critical in Rumuruti because rising water levels posed a direct risk to nearby communities, infrastructure, and daily activities. In this project context, the challenge was not only the presence of flood risk itself, but also the need for a solution that could be deployed quickly and effectively in response to changing conditions.

Traditional flood defence infrastructure is not always practical in locations where speed, flexibility, and cost efficiency are essential. For Rumuruti, this made deployable flood protection particularly relevant. A mobile solution such as SLAMDAM could provide immediate protection where needed, without requiring large-scale permanent construction.

By focusing on rapid deployment and practical implementation, the project helped demonstrate how flood control in Rumuruti could be strengthened in a way that is both effective and scalable for similar environments.