Helping Kenyans adapt to a changing climate

As a fast-changing climate creates more unpredictable and deadly weather events, broadcasting can quickly distribute life-saving information. Community radio can help Nairobi鈥檚 most vulnerable residents to prepare for an uncertain future

When the rains begin to fall, Veronica watches with trepidation. Like the other simple houses on her street, built of wood and corrugated metal, her home offers little protection from flooding, and any rain usually means she will soon be busy bailing out her room with buckets. This is becoming a regular occurrence for her, and she sighs at the thought of another night trying to keep dry.

Meanwhile, as increasingly heavy rain falls, Mary鈥檚 heart sinks. Last time it rained this heavily, she was out at work, and couldn鈥檛 get back in time to stop the water coming into her home. She needs the money 鈥� but her neighbours are getting tired of watching her young son, and are criticising her constantly.

On the other side of the country, Richard checks the station鈥檚 inbox. There are reports of impending rainfall and storms in the local area. Every fluctuation in weather can wreak havoc on his listeners, the fisherfolk who live and work around Lake Victoria. He begins to prepare his report from the forecast, then translates it to Dholuo, hoping he can report the coming storm in time to help his audience prepare themselves.

In Nairobi, Kenya, more than half of the city鈥檚 4.4 million population live in informal settlements 鈥� homes built from readily-available materials 鈥� yet these settlements occupy less than 5% of the area of the city. Hand-built homes like Veronica鈥檚 are quickly constructed but offer little protection from the elements, and as Kenya鈥檚 climate changes, residents are starting to feel the consequences of both rain and heat.

This problem is not limited to Kenya. Globally, , and in 30 years is expected to live in urban areas - putting even more pressure on communities like these.

A young woman in yellow jacket hangs clothing on a line. Behind her is a rough wall of wood and corrugated metal. — Mary hangs clothing outside her temporary home. Credit: Frame Studios for 麻豆约拍 Media Action.

"We were expecting the rains, but we didn't expect it to be that heavy, with that intensity"
鈥� - Young mother Veronica, whose home was destroyed by floods

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The precariously-built houses in Nairobi's outskirts tend to be in areas that are more , and livelihoods.

In March 2024, floods swept through Nairobi, with more than 200 people losing their lives, and thousands losing their homes.

And women are increasingly and by the effects of climate change. More likely to take a greater share of low or unpaid domestic labour, and less likely to own their land, climate-related disruptions are even more likely to jeopardise women鈥檚 homes and incomes.

Veronica, a young mother living in Korogocho, one of Nairobi鈥檚 largest informal settlements, was unprepared for the floods at first. 鈥淲e were expecting the rains, but we didn't expect it to be that heavy, with that intensity.鈥�

Like other homes in the area, Veronica鈥檚 roof leaks, and the rain takes a toll on her health as well as her home 鈥� sewage water inundates her home along with the rainwater.

Mary, another young woman living in Korogocho, is raising her child alone. She makes her living doing laundry and other odd jobs, and often must entrust her neighbours to watch him. One evening, she experienced flooding that came too close to home. 鈥淲hen I got back in the morning from work, I found my baby鈥檚 bed was submerged in water. I had put him on a higher place and the waters still got to him 鈥� but the neighbours saved him.鈥�

A young woman in a red printed dress and black scarf leans over broken chunks of concrete outside her home. Nearby is a wall of corrugated metal and a large water holding container — Veronica outside her home after the flooding. Credit: Frame Studios for 麻豆约拍 Media Action

In these worsening conditions, it isn鈥檛 only homes that are affected, but livelihoods. Peter, a farmer in Ahero, near Lake Victoria in Western Kenya, was forced to evacuate with his family when the floods reached them. Seasons of unusually heavy rains have contributed to 鈥� which means the tide now submerges everything every evening, whether it has rained again or not, damaging farms like Peter鈥檚. 鈥淲e cannot do any farming because of the floods. I鈥檓 just suddenly depending on whatever [money] I made yesterday.鈥�

A man in a white and black patterned shirt stares at the camera — Peter's land near Kisumu is flooding nightly. Credit: Diana Njeru. 麻豆约拍 Media Action

鈥淚 decided to move my family because I was fearing for their lives.鈥�
鈥� Kenyan farmer Peter about his decision to evacuate

A man stands in a flooded yard with water coming halfway up his lower legs. Grass peeks through the top of the water. A shelter of corrugated steel is behind and a house, also with corrugated steel, is to the side. A blue bucket sits in the foreground, — Peter's family had to evacuate after the flooding. Credit: Diana Njeru, 麻豆约拍 Media Action

As well as affecting families and farmers, the ripples of climate change are being felt in local journalism. Radio Lake Victoria is a station based in Kisumu which broadcasts in local dialect, reaching around 2.5 million listeners. The station鈥檚 core audience is those who work in the fishing industry. The station broadcasts weekly shows focusing on environmental issues, meeting locals who are undertaking conservation projects and community stakeholders. 鈥淔ishermen and environment 鈥� they go hand in hand,鈥� says Richard Oyoo, the station鈥檚 general manager. 鈥淲e saw the need of trying to carry out [climate] education to our people.鈥�

Beyond programming, this station has experienced firsthand the impact of recent flooding. 鈥淟ake backflow had stormed the ground floor and the studio, [our offices] ... water was all over.鈥�

The damage affected their equipment, with the transmission studio under water. 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 salvage anything.鈥�

A man in dark shirt gestures as he stands in a radio studio. Behind him is a sign with RLV on the wall, and beside him is a desk with microphones and a screen. — Richard stands in the recording studio at Radio Lake Victoria, which was damaged by flooding. Credit: Diana Njeru, 麻豆约拍 Media Action

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Before the floods, Peter got his news like many others, through his smartphone, and the television. But climate-related weather events can impact communication, too - and local broadcasters also need support to prepare for the future: 鈥淩ight now, we are down 鈥� we don鈥檛 have electricity.鈥�

Radio is a valuable tool when other forms of communication fail, as radio bulletins can be heard by those who cannot afford or access the internet.

Catherine Wanjiku, a team leader at Koch FM, a community radio station based in Nairobi, says weather warnings are critical; not only to help protect communities against damage to their homes, but to help prevent against loss of life. When a sunny day was followed by a cyclone, she said, the community wasn't prepared. Five people in a household near the banks of the Gomongo river died. Earlier warnings might have helped them evacuate.

Having experienced these weather extremities, the station has various ways of preparing its audience. 鈥淲e get our weather news from the Kenya Meterological Department, [which] we translate into Swahili.鈥� During radio broadcasts, these translations can help to reach a wider audience, with Swahili more widely spoken than English, particularly in informal settlements. Koch FM also uses a WhatsApp group to share weather updates with its listeners.

Yet this key community resource faces its own challenges. With Koch FM鈥檚 frequency only covering a small 5km (3.1-mile) radius, and not everyone having access to a smartphone where they can listen to the shows online, the station struggles to reach as many people as it would like to. There鈥檚 also the matter of the cost 鈥� it largely relies on the passion of a dedicated team of volunteers who keep the station going.

A young woman in bright yellow shirt sits behind a desk with headphones around her neck. In front is a computer screen and keyboard, and behind her a sign carries Koch FM's nae and contact details. A mural on the wall behind shows a radio and microphone. — Catherine in the recording studio at Koch FM. Credit: David Njuguna, 麻豆约拍 Media Action

Stations like Koch FM can help connect displaced audiences to resources, provide education and inspire communities to take action to adapt and prepare. 鈥淎s much as we are covering them, they also see us as their voice,鈥� says Catherine.

Citizen-led action can have . 鈥� community-led projects, communicated through broadcast media which also provide platforms for further discussion, are helping to improve the living conditions of people in Nairobi鈥檚 informal settlements.

Bringing residents closer together can also repair community spirits. When Mary experienced depression after the flood, worsened by souring relationships with her neighbours, she sought solace in radio.

鈥淚 told [Shiko from Koch FM] my story; [she] felt the pain [鈥 she helped me with food [and] took me to a safe space.鈥� Mary has since found a new place to live, and likes to listen to the teachings and seminars hosted by Koch FM. 鈥淔or us young mothers, it educates us. I see my life changing.鈥�

But these small community radio stations face tremendous financial hardships. They can鈥檛 create change alone. This is where 麻豆约拍 Media Action 鈥� the 麻豆约拍鈥檚 independent, international development organisation 鈥� is stepping in.

With support, training and mentoring for local community radio stations, the hope is that more people will receive life-saving information, stories and ideas about adapting to climate change.

As the impacts of a changing climate intensify, along with the challenges of supporting people to adapt and survive, supporting community broadcasting through charities like 麻豆约拍 Media Action could help make the difference to those reporting from the frontlines, and the people they serve.

Climate-related programming, as seen on Radio Lake Victoria, and weather information distributed in understandable and engaging ways on Koch FM can help audiences to more effectively protect their homes, adapt their lifestyle and farming practices, and be equipped with practical information. Community-run radio stations can help communities can grow stronger, with more platforms to discuss issues, helping people make informed choices and transform their own lives.

麻豆约拍 Media Action鈥檚 support stretches far beyond Kenya, with a global reach and projects in 30 countries. Through our work, we are training community radio stations and journalists to deliver trusted, often life-saving information and content 鈥� including about weather and climate.

We need your help to reach more community broadcasters around the world - so they can strengthen and empower their communities to adapt to the growing threats.