ODM-nominated MP Umulkheir Harun has launched public forums across Garissa to document flood victims’ losses and rally support for a court case seeking compensation.
The lawmaker said all individuals and groups affected by the floods and seeking to be enjoined in the ongoing court case are free to do so.
Last week, Harun, who has declared interest in the Garissa Woman Representative seat, filed a petition at the High Court in Garissa over the recurring floods that have caused widespread destruction in the county for years.
The court has already held its first session and directed that all interested parties be enjoined in the case.
Those expected to join the petition include farmers’ groups, the Garissa government and residents whose homes, farms, livestock and property have been destroyed or damaged by the floods.
Harun expressed confidence in the Judiciary, saying affected residents would finally get justice.
She spoke during a community meeting in Bula Vumbi, Galbet ward, one of the areas frequently hit by floods.
“As you are aware, we have been raising this matter for the last three years,” Harun said.
“Garissa is a semi-arid region and we do not receive enough rainfall, but because dams upstream are filled with silt, whenever there are heavy rains in areas such as Mount Kenya and Mount Elgon, the dams cannot hold the excess water and authorities are forced to open the gates.”
She said the spillover water has continued to wreak havoc in Garissa and Tana River counties, including areas located far from the riverbanks.
“The victims are communities living in Garissa and Tana River counties. Some of them are not even close to the river, but the water still reaches them because of the volume released,” Harun said.
She said she had previously raised the matter in Parliament through statements directed to the relevant ministries, but residents were now seeking legal intervention after years of suffering.
“We are now in court because the Judiciary is another arm of government where we can seek our rights,” Harun said.
“I am in court on behalf of communities affected by these floods, farmers, families whose homes have been submerged and residents who have continuously suffered loss of property and lives.”
The MP clarified that the lawsuit was not meant to fight the government, but to ensure affected communities are heard and compensated.
“We are not in court because we are fighting anyone. We are in court so that we can be heard and eventually arrive at a lasting agreement that includes compensation for the affected residents,” she added.
Harun further disclosed that the court had directed all interested parties, including farmers’ groups and individual victims, to formally join the case.
“Any person who has lost property or suffered because of the floods is free to be enjoined in the case, including the county government,” she said.
Harun said the ongoing community meetings are aimed at documenting losses and strengthening the petition before the matter proceeds further in court.
She also called for long-term solutions, including proper water harvesting and flood control systems, saying the region should benefit from excess water instead of suffering losses every rainy season.
The MP commended President William Ruto for the quick reconstruction of Tana Bridge after it was destroyed by floods in 2024, saying the intervention restored a critical transport link to northern Kenya.
Residents who attended the meeting narrated years of suffering caused by recurring floods.
Bula Vumbi farmer and chairman Amin Korow said the community first experienced severe floods in 1997 and again in 2006, after which the flooding became almost annual.
“These floods have caused us untold suffering. Our crops, some ready for harvest, are always washed away, leading to huge losses. Our animals have also been swept away by the raging floods and our homes are constantly destroyed,” he said.
“We are 100 per cent behind the case that has been filed. The good thing is that farmers have already been enjoined, and we shall fully participate until the matter is concluded.”
Another resident, Nimo Omar, recalled her traumatic experience during the 2023 floods when her home was submerged just days after she gave birth.
“I lost everything in 2023. My house was submerged and I incurred huge losses amounting to millions of shillings. I had to start all over again, repairing the house and replacing household items,” she said.
Parts of Garissa, Balambala and Fafi subcounties have for years borne the brunt of dam spillages and the overflow of River Tana during heavy rains upstream.
The floods have repeatedly submerged homes, destroyed crops and swept away livestock, leaving hundreds of families displaced and dependent on relief food.
Riverine villages, including Mororo and neighbouring settlements, continue to endure repeated cycles of destruction, with many families yet to recover fully from previous floods.
