Widespread flooding triggered after days of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms has killed at least 49 people and displaced thousands more. Abnormally high temperatures preceded the heavy burst of rainfall. On 6 March, city residents were seen swimming in flooded waters after heavy rainfall hit the city, turning roads into rivers, breaking drainage systems, and submerging neighborhoods. Since then, thousands are without shelter or have been forced out of their homes. Many have camped in churches, schools, and other public spaces. Rev. Dr Alphonse Kanga, chairman of the National Council of Churches, Nairobi region, said the churches were welcoming the people displaced by the floods, and providing food and blankets. “Many of our member churches have opened their doors and are looking around to (offer support). We …have come together and contributed the little we could. We are responding to what is happening,” he said. According to the leader from the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, while climate change was partly to blame for the floods in Nairobi, people also need to take responsibility. “It’s part of our failure to take responsibility. The government systems…put in place have concentrated on other issues rather than climate change,” said Kanga. He warned that church could not escape responsibility in climate change, “because we were created to take care of the earth, Mother Earth.” “If you mismanage the earth, you have destroyed it—you have gone against the will of God. And this is basically what we have taught and what we are teaching, and especially among our member churches. That's why our member churches always propagate tree planting,” said the church leader, as he stressed that the floods in Kenya would have been prevented if the country had invested in the collection and storage of water. Ven. Dr Lydia Mwaniki, the leader in charge of the St Patrick’s Kayole Anglican Parish, said the floods had hit members of the parish and the surrounding community. “The congregations are much smaller and the offerings have gone down. This is because the floods are preventing people from coming to church on Sunday. Many others are also displaced,” said Mwaniki. Mwaniki’s parish—located in an informal settlement in Nairobi—has since started a mercy ministry to support the community. “Any form of support, either in the form of dry food and money, is welcome,” she said. Meanwhile, in what climate scientists and church leaders describe as the unpredictability caused by climate change, it is being observed that rains have come too early and in the midst of a severe drought in the north, northeastern, and southern regions. Recently, scientists have warned that climate change is worsening floods and droughts in east Africa, while making rainfall shorter and intense. With the latest onset, farmers have raced to plant crops, but the fear is the rains may cease before the crops mature. In Marsabit, about 530 kilometers north of Nairobi, Anglican Bishop Daniel Qampicha Wario, said the little rains witnessed in parts of his diocese were a sign of hope and restoration. “The rains have come in some places. Grass has started to sprout. This is a sign of hope,” said Wario. “We will plant crops and wait. We hope the rains will be enough to sustain the crops to harvest.” Recently, the diocese has been experiencing a severe drought, with communities suffering serious water, food, and animal pasture shortages. According to Wario, the rains have alleviated part of the water shortage in the community, but food will be needed until the next harvest in three months. WCC member churches in Kenya | 
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