The Kenyan government has activated its national El Niño contingency plan, placing various agencies on standby to address potential disasters. The Ministry of Interior announced that the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) will coordinate the response, with both national and county governments scaling up interventions based on the severity and geographic spread of impacts. This move aims to mitigate the effects of expected El Niño rains.
Designated evacuation and displacement centres have been set up, and a standardized registration system is ready to identify, track, and assist people displaced by the rains. Alternative access routes will be opened where roads are disrupted, and air support will be mobilized through NDOC as needed. The Kenya Coast Guard Service, Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, Kenya Red Cross Society, and National Youth Service have been tasked with round-the-clock search-and-rescue operations.
Health authorities are preparing for possible communicable disease outbreaks, deploying the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and Incident Management System to strengthen surveillance and control water-borne and vector-borne infections. This proactive measure aims to prevent and respond to potential health crises that may arise during the El Niño season.
Food security measures are also being implemented, including pre-positioning food stocks in ten priority counties: Tana River, Garissa, Kisumu, Busia, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kilifi, Wajir, Mandera, and Turkana. These stocks will cushion vulnerable populations against potential shortages and disruptions to food supplies.
Relief supplies, emergency shelter materials, and protection monitoring mechanisms have been pre-positioned for rapid deployment to evacuation centres. Additionally, water-quality surveillance and distribution of water-treatment products will be intensified to prevent water-borne diseases. These efforts aim to ensure the well-being and safety of those affected by the El Niño rains.
County governments will lead implementation within their jurisdictions, supported by technical assistance from national institutions. Governors and county commissioners will coordinate through County Disaster Risk Management Committees and County Emergency Operations Centres. At the sub-county level, disaster management teams, community health promoters, and other local partners will manage early warning, preparedness, and first-response efforts.
The government will continue to monitor the situation through NDOC and county coordination structures, updating emergency response plans as risks evolve. Refugee operations in the Dadaab, Kakuma, and Kalobeyei complexes will continue under the coordination of UNHCR and the Department of Refugee Services.
Key points
- The Kenyan government has activated its national El Niño contingency plan to mitigate the effects of expected El Niño rains.
- Various agencies, including health and food security authorities, have been placed on standby to address potential disasters.
- The government has pre-positioned food stocks, relief supplies, and emergency shelter materials in priority counties to cushion vulnerable populations.
