Yahya Jire comes from a long line of farmers in Garissa County, a region renowned for its pastoral traditions.

His family farm, now known as Tawakal Naningi Farm, was cultivated by his grandfather and has been passed down through generations.

Determined to contribute to food security, create jobs, and promote agribusiness in the region, Jire chose agriculture as his path.

On his 20-acre farm, he grows mangoes, maize, vegetables, mapera (guava), and zeitun (olives)—crops well suited to the region’s semi-arid climate.

But everything changed between 2024 and 2025, when flash floods caused by the overflowing Tana River devastated farms across the county.

Residents of Garissa, Tana River, and Lamu counties who live in low-lying areas and near water bodies were affected after the Seven Forks Dams spilled over and caused flooding.

"The whole farm was destroyed," Jire said.

"I lost nearly everything. The water came suddenly in the night. I had no time to harvest or move my animals. It was shocking—and sad."

Since the floods, Jire has avoided going back to the farm. The sight of the destruction has taken a toll on him emotionally.

"It’s too painful," he says. "I spent years building that farm, and in just one night, everything was washed away."

The stress and sense of loss have made it difficult for him even to consider replanting without proper support, as well as assurance that such devastation won’t happen again.

He is among dozens of farmers now counting their losses and calling for improved early warning systems to help them prepare for future disasters.

Crops were submerged, livestock swept away, and irrigation infrastructure destroyed.

Yussuf Gedi of Ziwani Farm in Kora Kora said the floods were the worst in recent memory.

"It was extreme. All farms in Garissa were affected, especially in Maramtu and Tawakal. Mango trees were overtaken by water. We lost crops, livestock, and farm equipment," he said.

The flooding, triggered by heavy rainfall in upstream regions including Lower Meru, Kitui, and northern Garissa, inundated farms in Nanigi, Sankuri, Galbet, and Iftin wards.

"This has been recurrent. It’s partly due to uncontrolled water releases and lack of riverbank protection. Upstream deforestation worsens the speed and impact of flash floods."

A major concern among farmers is the lack of timely and accessible early warning.

An informal survey by a local journalists community-based organization found that over 70% of farmers affected by the floods said they received no official warning.

The Society of Garissa Professional Journalists (SGPJ) is the county's most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.

It noted that many had heard unverified rumors of rising water levels upstream but lacked actionable information.

"We listen to the radio every evening," said Warsame Noor, a farmer and father of eight. "If we had heard even a brief warning, we would have taken action."

"There needs to be a better communication system in place," he added.

Garissa County Director of Agriculture, Musyimi Kyalo, acknowledged that farms in Sankuri, Galbet, and Iftin were the most affected.

"There are early warning systems in place," he said. "But not all farmers respond to advisories. Some ignore updates, even when we advise harvesting before floods."

He noted that the 2023 El Niño short rains and the 2024 long rains were particularly destructive.

"Every flood event is unique. In this case, the Meteorological Department had not projected such severe flooding. That said, advisories should be followed up more closely, with weekly updates and accessible communication."

Kyalo confirmed that unusually heavy rainfall in neighboring counties increased water volume in Tana River, but said dam waters themselves did not spill into farms.

Local leaders and environmental experts are calling on both county and national governments to invest in real-time early warning systems using SMS alerts, local administration networks, and vernacular radio.

"Farmers need to be empowered with timely and reliable information," said Abdullahi Osman, an environmental expert.

“We must combine technology with community structures to build resilience.”

Farmers have also urged for more seasonal farming education, noting that poor information leads some to invest during risky periods.

Despite the heavy losses, farmers like Jire remain hopeful.

"I inherited this farm. I’ve built it for years. We can recover—but we need help," he said.

Farmers are seeking support in the form of seeds, farming tools, and veterinary services, alongside long-term investment in flood protection, reforestation, and extension services.

Areas along the Tana River—which flows through four counties—have long suffered from recurrent flooding, often triggered by spillover from upstream dams in Kenya’s highlands.

These floods have severely disrupted local communities, especially by damaging food production and threatening regional food security.