Beyond the Brink: Addressing Vulnerabilities to Flood Disasters in a Changing Climate in Kenya

Flooding, exacerbated by climate change, poses significant challenges to societies worldwide, including Kenya. This has increased existing socio-cultural vulnerabilities and posed significant health risks. Understanding these vulnerabilities and developing effective strategies to mitigate flood risks requires interdisciplinary perspectives, including sociology, anthropology, health and linguistics. This paper synthesises recent literature (2014-2025) to identify knowledge gaps and propose strategies to address vulnerabilities to flood disasters from sociological, anthropological, health and linguistic perspectives. From a sociological standpoint, vulnerability is understood through social determinants such as socio-economic status, race, gender, and community resilience. Anthropological insights highlight the role of culture, traditional knowledge, and community coping strategies in response to floods. Linguistics offers a unique perspective by examining how language shapes perceptions, communication, and decision-making related to flood risk. Key knowledge gaps include the need for a deeper understanding of the intersectionality of vulnerability, the role of language and communication in risk perception, and the incorporation of cultural perspectives into flood risk management. Filling these gaps requires interdisciplinary collaboration, participatory research methodologies, and community engagement approaches. Theoretical frameworks such as social capital theory and cultural theory provide lenses for understanding community resilience and adaptation strategies. Methodologically, mixed-method approaches combining qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques offer holistic insights into the complex social dynamics of flood vulnerability. From the review, it is evident that integrating sociological, health, anthropological and linguistic perspectives into flood risk management strategies enhances resilience and reduces vulnerability to flood disasters in a changing climate. Policy gaps include the need for more inclusive and culturally sensitive approaches to flood risk management. The paper recommends promotion of community-based adaptation strategies, strengthening social networks, and improving risk communication through linguistically and health and culturally appropriate methods.