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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 county has identified 227 flood-prone locations across Nairobi’s 17 sub-counties. The mapping exercise will guide where equipment, personnel and emergency resources are deployed as the rains intensify.
Apart from the eight counties expected to receive rain, several parts of the country are likely to experience intermittent cool and cloudy conditions. The areas include parts of Embu, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Meru, Murang'a, Nairobi, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Tharaka-Nithi, Nakuru, Machakos, Kajiado, Taita Taveta, Marsabit and Wajir counties.
According to the National Disaster Operations Centre, water from flooding can also wash away or weaken soil around building foundations. Such damage may affect the stability of a structure and create danger not only for occupants but also for people in neighbouring areas.
The Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) has warned that the expected return of El Niño could affect millions of people who rely on livestock for food and income if preparations are delayed.
The authorities said the identified counties had been prioritised in emergency response planning according to their exposure to different risks associated with El Niño
The agency's latest assessment, released on Wednesday, shows that Central and South America, the Caribbean and southern Africa are likely to face the greatest hardship as changing weather patterns disrupt rainfall and crop production. Parts of South and South-East Asia are also expected to receive less rainfall than normal, increasing the risk of poor harvests and food shortages for farming communities.
KRCS Secretary-General, Ahmed Idris, said financial support from the United States has dropped by about 40 per cent, affecting humanitarian programmes that have relied on international assistance for many years.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the party said warnings issued by the Kenya Meteorological Department, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development's Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) point to what could become the country's most severe El Niño season in 150 years.
The Second in Command outlined that the administration was determined to ensure that no part of the country experienced food shortages or famine as a result of the changing weather conditions
The Kenya Meteorological Department has also warned that weather conditions could change sharply before the end of the year, with relatively dry months giving way to heavy rains and possible flooding.
A new assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) identifies several African countries as being most vulnerable to the impacts of El Niño