Kenya’s national and county governments have been urged to intensify preparations for possible El Niño conditions expected to bring enhanced rainfall during the October-December season.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said 18 counties, alongside Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, had been identified as particularly vulnerable to flooding, landslides, disease outbreaks, displacement and infrastructure damage.
Speaking during the 30th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) at his official residence in Karen on Monday, Kindiki said the national government had already begun preparations through the Department for Special Programmes and National Emergency Multi-Agency Response Teams.
He noted that food and non-food relief supplies, including shelter materials, were being pre-positioned while areas vulnerable to flooding and other climate-related hazards were being mapped.
“We must therefore prepare for the possibility of above-normal rainfall, flooding, flash floods, landslides and disruption of critical infrastructure, while recognizing that the actual impacts will vary from county to county and that forecasts will continue to be refined as we approach the October–December season.”
Kindiki urged counties to activate disaster preparedness and response plans, clear and maintain drainage systems, identify vulnerable communities, pre-position essential supplies and strengthen emergency response teams.
The warning comes after Kenya experienced severe flooding during the 2023 October-December short-rains season, when El Niño-enhanced rainfall affected large parts of the country.
The Kenya Meteorological Department says floods affected 38 counties during the 2023 short rains, causing deaths, injuries, displacement and destruction of infrastructure.
More than 750,000 people were affected, while farmland, businesses and livestock were also lost.
Garissa, Mandera, Tana River and Wajir were among the hardest-hit counties during the 2023 El Niño floods.
UNICEF reported that approximately 38 of Kenya’s 47 counties were affected by riverine floods, flash floods and landslides, with major roads cut off and communities in the arid and semi-arid lands facing severe disruption.
The effects extended beyond the initial El Niño season. Kenya Meteorological Department records show that the heavy rains left rivers and water systems vulnerable, while El Niño-enhanced rainfall contributed to high soil moisture levels that intensified flooding during the March-May 2024 rains.
Those rains affected 43 of the 47 counties.
The phenomenon is associated with unusually warm sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, which can alter global weather patterns.
In East Africa, El Niño conditions are generally associated with increased rainfall during the October-December season, although the intensity and location of impacts can vary.
Kenya’s 2023 experience demonstrated the potential consequences, particularly when heavy rainfall occurs in areas already vulnerable because of poor drainage, river overflow, fragile infrastructure or previous drought.
Kindiki also reviewed progress on resolutions adopted during the previous IBEC session, including drought response, healthcare, county financing and pending bills.
He said 46 counties had signed Intergovernmental Partnership Agreements under the National Equipment Service Programme, with equipment installed in 41 counties covering 88 health facilities.
The Deputy President stressed that Sh2.04 billion had been provided for maternity services at Level 2 and Level 3 facilities, while counties were urged to honour commitments towards vulnerable households.
On county financing, Kindiki said counties had received their full equitable share for the previous financial year, while Parliament had approved Sh428 billion as the equitable share for the 2026/27 financial year.
He maintained that Sh34.46 billion in pending-bills exchequer requests had also been approved.
He stated that counties must now focus on early action against climate-related risks while strengthening service delivery and protecting the gains made under devolution.
He urged national and county authorities to act before the rains begin, saying preparedness would be critical in safeguarding lives, livelihoods, infrastructure and essential services.