Church leaders and faith-based organisations in Kenya are calling for early and coordinated action as the country prepares for anticipated El Niño-related rains. They warn that communities should not wait for floods to strike before responding. The Association of Religion Practitioner Professionals chairman Ezekiel Muendo said religious institutions have a crucial role to play in advising their followers on matters of national interest.
According to Muendo, religious institutions are deeply rooted in communities and can quickly mobilise people during emergencies. He emphasised the need for stakeholders to take early warnings on El Nino rains seriously, saying, "We should not wait until people are swept or their livelihoods are destroyed before we begin calling for help." One of the key proposals is for churches to establish relationships with emergency responders, police, local administrators, and humanitarian organisations before the rains intensify.
The Kenya Climate Change Working Group has also urged faith institutions to prepare their facilities as possible emergency shelters and establish dedicated disaster-response budgets. Dr John Kioli, chairman of the group, said religious organisations should pay particular attention to people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. He noted that faith partners should be in the forefront of offering support to people who will be displaced by floods, especially in informal settlements.
The appeal comes as national and county authorities intensify preparations for heavy rainfall expected later this year. All 47 counties have been directed to map flood-prone areas, identify evacuation grounds, and strengthen measures to protect lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure. Kioli also called for faith groups to identify where people with disabilities live and establish ways of reaching them quickly during emergencies.
The Catholic Church has moved towards anticipatory action, with Caritas Kenya, the humanitarian and development arm of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, preparing for possible El Niño rains by strengthening its capacity to respond and working with international Caritas partners. Caritas Kenya National Director Samuel Omondi said the organisation is undertaking anticipatory planning with regard to the forecast of El Niño rains later in the year.
Other faith groups, including the Pentecostal Assemblies of God-Kenya, are also calling for preparedness, linking it to wider concerns about the role of religious leadership in society. General Superintendent Kennedy Adiara said religious leaders have significant influence over their followers and are in a good position to rally them in heeding early warnings by the meteorological department.
The faith leaders' call for early action is a response to the potential impacts of El Niño, including flooding, displacement of communities, and health risks. They are urging residents to heed official weather warnings, avoid unnecessary travel during periods of severe flooding, and never attempt to cross flooded roads or swollen rivers.
Key points
- Church leaders urge coordinated response to El Niño-related rains
- Faith institutions to prepare facilities as emergency shelters
- Authorities direct counties to map flood-prone areas and identify evacuation grounds
