When heavy rains caused severe flooding in informal settlements across Nairobi, families in Mathare and Kawangware lost homes, belongings, and access to clean food and water almost overnight. Mercy of Hope mobilized within days.
Rapid, community-led response
Working with local volunteers who knew the affected areas intimately, the team organized two relief drives. Food packs containing flour, grains, cooking oil, and basic hygiene essentials were distributed directly to the most vulnerable households — prioritizing single mothers, elderly residents, and families with young children.
Beyond the emergency
The relief drives were not just about supplies. Volunteers spent time with affected families, documenting needs, connecting people to temporary shelter options, and identifying children whose schooling had been disrupted. Several of those children were later enrolled in Mercy of Hope’s education support program. The experience reinforced an important lesson: emergency response is most effective when it comes from people who already know the community.
