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Speaking after chairing the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Cabinet Committee on El Nino Preparedness and Response in Nairobi on Thursday, Kindiki said all relevant government institutions had been mobilised following forecasts pointing to a high probability of above-normal rainfall between October and December.
As part of its mandate, the committee has been instructed to immediately operationalise a National El Niño Contingency Plan designed to help the country respond swiftly and effectively to any emergencies linked to the anticipated weather conditions.
Kenya is among countries that FAO and WFP say require urgent support and planning before the expected impacts become more severe.
Kenya’s weather office forecasts mostly dry, warmer conditions over the next three months, with El Niño conditions most likely in June-July-August but rainfall boost expected later, alongside monitoring of the Indian Ocean Dipole.
Kenya Red Cross says March–May rains affected 41 counties, impacting 85,993 households and displacing 18,587. The floods destroyed 355 water sources and wiped out 38,955 acres of farmland, including in Tana River’s Tana Delta.
The senator pointed to recent flooding incidents in Nairobi County as evidence of the looming danger, noting that residents had already been killed, homes destroyed, and families stranded.
The World Meteorological Organization warns El Niño conditions are likely to develop between June and August 2026, with forecasts suggesting persistence into November. It urges governments to strengthen preparedness and early warning systems.
Olekina specifically pointed to several areas he said are highly vulnerable, including low-lying towns, river basins, and informal settlements that already struggle with drainage challenges and encroached waterways.
The US Climate Prediction Center said there is now an 82 per cent chance that El Niño conditions will develop during the May to July period.
The World Meteorological Organization says South Asia is likely to see below-average rainfall in the June–September 2026 monsoon, alongside above-normal temperatures. The forecast aims to help agriculture, water and heat-health planning.
The World Meteorological Organization says rising sea-surface temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific signal a possible El Niño onset between May and July 2026. Forecasts also point to above-normal temperatures in many regions, with rainfall impacts varying.
Global weather models show about a 60 per cent chance that El Niño will develop between June and August 2026 and continue into 2027.