Eighteen Counties Identified as High Risk El Nino Areas
Eighteen counties have been classified as high-risk areas as the government steps up preparations for heavy rains and flooding expected from October.
The 18 counties identified as potentially high-risk are spread across the Coast, Lake, North Eastern and Rift Valley regions.
They include Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu, Mombasa, Kwale, Kisumu, Busia, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori, among others.
As the government rolls up its sleeves, preparations are gathering pace ahead of the anticipated El Niño rains.
The Kenya Meteorological Department warns that El Niño conditions are gaining momentum in the Indian Ocean and could persist from October this year through February 2027.
The weatherman, however, says Western Kenya could begin experiencing El Niño conditions as early as September.
“The El Niño is gaining strength and will extend until February 2027. This is an early warning,” Dr David Muriuki, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Meteorological Department, stated.
Already, a multi-agency team led by Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa has been on the ground in Baringo County, bringing together experts from across government to avert a possible humanitarian and environmental disaster around Lakes Baringo and Bogoria, among the areas identified as high-risk.
“We must now have everyone nearby evacuated in order to prevent loss of lives,” she highlighted.
“We must come in on a big scale and move fast, as time is not on our side,” Yvonne, a representative of the United Nations Development Programme, stated.
Speaking after inspecting weather-monitoring facilities at the Kenya Meteorological Department headquarters in Nairobi, CS Barasa said the government is working around the clock to mitigate the impact of the expected heavy rains.
“Those living on riparian land must vacate immediately and seek higher ground. We have response teams on the ground already monitoring, and we are coordinating with village elders to relocate affected persons,” Barasa stated.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is preparing for the possible health impacts of the expected rains.
Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni says the ministry is seeking partners to support the El Niño response, including temporary medical facilities, emergency medical services, nutritional assessments and medical supplies for affected areas.
“We have experienced El Niño before, and we have taken time to learn from past disasters and build on the challenges we faced so that we can better mitigate its effects,” the PS noted.
Muthoni spoke during a health partners' engagement ahead of the Kenya Public Health International Conference, stressing that an effective El Niño response will require close coordination between the government and its partners.