Mandera County risks being completely cut off by road and air if the anticipated El Niño rains begin, raising concerns over access to essential services and the delivery of emergency supplies.
National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) Director Col. (Rtd) David Samoei said seven airstrips in the county were not tarmacked, while roads leading to the region often became impassable during heavy rains.
Speaking during a multi-agency El Niño preparedness meeting at Nyayo House in Nairobi, Samoei warned that prolonged disruption could interfere with critical services and expose residents to severe hardship and loss of life.
He said the government was strengthening preparedness measures to ensure essential services, particularly healthcare and security operations, remained functional throughout the anticipated rainy period.
Samoei noted that the region depended largely on diesel-powered generators for electricity, consuming approximately 15,000 litres of fuel daily. He said at least 1.8 million litres of diesel would be required to sustain operations for three months as authorities monitored the situation.
The fuel reserves would help maintain electricity supplies to hospitals and essential security installations, enabling them to provide emergency services when needed.
The NDOC director said Nairobi, Kisumu, Busia and Mandera had been prioritised for special attention based on their experiences with previous disasters and their vulnerability to the anticipated heavy rains.
He said the centre was coordinating preparations through regular meetings involving government agencies, private sector representatives and non-governmental organisations to strengthen emergency response and minimise the impact of the rains.
Samoei said the Ministry of Education had asked authorities to identify alternative facilities for accommodating displaced families instead of using schools as temporary shelters.
He explained that schools used as evacuation centres often suffered damage, with furniture and other installations sometimes destroyed or used as firewood by displaced families. Such damage, he said, increased repair costs and delayed the resumption of learning after disasters.
The director called for closer cooperation and information-sharing among government agencies to improve disaster planning and ensure timely responses when emergencies occurred.
He also urged the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) to consider waiving charges for aircraft involved in humanitarian operations during disasters, saying the move would reduce operational costs and delays in delivering emergency assistance.
Among the preparedness measures underway are rapid inspections of major roads and bridges, identification of stormwater hotspots and water-crossing points, and inspection of dams and drainage works, including the draining of Nairobi Dam.
Samoei said the interventions were aimed at protecting lives, safeguarding livelihoods and reducing damage to infrastructure during the anticipated heavy rains.
He urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and follow weather advisories and other official alerts issued through the media and government communication channels.
The preparedness meetings bring together several state agencies, including the Kenya National Highways Authority, the Kenya Urban Roads Authority, the Kenya Rural Roads Authority, the KCAA, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, and the Nairobi Rivers Commission.
By David Mwangi
