The government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Interior has unveiled 7 measures to strengthen preparedness for expected El Nino rains in the country. 

In a statement dated September 1, 2026, the government noted that the anticipated impacts of the El Nino rains include flooding, drowning, injuries and fatalities, displacement and isolation of communities, disease outbreaks, disruption of essential services, damage to roads and other critical infrastructure, and losses to crops, livestock and livelihoods.

With some counties, particularly in the Western/Nyanza and North Eastern regions, expected to experience an early onset of the rainfall season, the government is implementing a National Contingency Plan to strengthen preparedness and response and minimise the potential impacts of the rains.

The Plan, developed in collaboration with national and county government agencies, humanitarian partners, security agencies and other disaster management stakeholders, outlines the following measures to improve early warning and enhance response capacity ahead of the rainfall season:

 1. Hotspot mapping has been undertaken to identify areas particularly vulnerable to flooding and other impacts of heavy rainfall. 

 2. Unclogging and desilting of drainage systems, culverts and other water channels are ongoing to improve water flow and reduce the risk of urban flooding.

3. Awareness of the evacuation of people living on riparian land and in other high-risk areas is on track, with temporary holding grounds identified to accommodate populations that may be displaced by flooding and other emergencies.

 4. Relevant agencies are inspecting bridges, roads, and critical utilities in flood-prone areas to identify vulnerabilities and undertake preventive interventions.

 5. Community-level early warning systems are also being strengthened through Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, and Nyumba Kumi structures to ensure that timely information reaches communities, particularly those living in high-risk areas.

 6. Emergency relief items, including food, non-food items, and emergency medical supplies, are being pre-positioned at strategic locations to facilitate rapid response in the event of displacement or other emergencies.

 7. Rapid response teams are on standby and are being strengthened to undertake search and rescue operations, evacuation and post-disaster assessments whenever required.