The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has warned that the expected El Niño rains could deepen human rights violations and urged the government to adopt a rights-based approach in preparing for and responding to the rains. 

KHRC says about 80 percent of the country is at risk of severe flooding, with 47 counties potentially affected, and has raised concerns over the impact of floods on vulnerable communities, including displacement, school disruptions, inadequate sanitation and access to healthcare. 

The commission is calling for transparent and equitable evacuation, relocation and humanitarian assistance, protection of human rights defenders, continued access to essential services, and full disclosure of financing, procurement and expenditure related to the response. 

KHRC has also demanded accountability over previous flood interventions and warned against using emergency situations to bypass procurement laws and public oversight. 

The commission says it is establishing a human rights monitoring and response centre to document and respond to violations linked to the government’s response to the El Niño rains.