Nakuru County has activated an Ad Hoc Committee on El Niño Preparedness and Response to coordinate Kenya’s response to the forecast moderate-to-strong El Niño rains expected later this year.
The committee, chaired by County Commissioner Dr Lyford Kibaara will oversee the implementation of urgent preparedness measures aimed at minimizing the impact of flooding and other climate-related disasters associated with the anticipated heavy rains.
Dr Kibaara assured residents that the multi-agency team was laying down adequate measures in anticipation of the El Nino rains expected between October and December this year.
The administrator explained that the committee that is co-chaired by Nakuru County Secretary Dr Samuel Maina had activated relevant State agencies and county departments in conjunction with the State Department for Special Programmes and humanitarian agencies to ensure that in the event of the forecasted rains they are not caught flatfooted.
Speaking after a meeting to deliberate on the County’s preparedness and coordinated response to the anticipated 2026/2027 El Niño season and other disasters, Dr Kibaara indicated that they had held discussions on mapping the internal resources available within committee members, mitigation measures, the relay of information to the public, strengthening interdepartmental coordination, and identifying priority interventions.
Scientists contend that El Nino as part of a larger climate cycle is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon characterized by the abnormal warming of the Pacific Sea surface temperatures.
The World Meteorological Association warns that the El Nino climate phenomenon could bring droughts, flooding, heat waves and displacement of people around the world later this year.
The international weather agency warned that the anticipated heavy rainfall could have far reaching consequences across many sectors including transportation, agriculture, health and infrastructure.
The national government has also activated an Ad Hoc Cabinet Committee on El Nino preparedness that will also support the County governments.
Dr Kibaara stated that early preparedness and timely action remained essential in reducing the impacts of El Nino rains thus averting humanitarian crises and protecting livelihoods.
The committee will also coordinate farmer advisories to help cushion the agricultural sector from potential losses.
The move is aimed at strengthening national resilience and ensuring better coordination among Government agencies ahead of the expected weather disruptions.
The formation of the special committee comes as Kenya continues to enhance climate preparedness following previous episodes of devastating floods that displaced families, destroyed infrastructure and disrupted economic activities in several parts of the country.
Dr Kibaara noted that early planning and inter-agency coordination will be critical in protecting lives, safeguarding property and ensuring continuity of essential services during the El Niño season.
He said the measures are aimed at strengthening national preparedness and ensuring a coordinated response ahead of the anticipated El Niño season.
Kenya is among 22 countries around the world that could be badly affected by a powerful El Niño that is developing and is expected to grow stronger in the coming months.
A new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) warns that millions of people could face threats to their food supplies and livelihoods unless governments and aid agencies act early.
The report says Kenya is among countries facing a high risk of climate-related shocks linked to El Niño between late 2026 and early 2027.
“An El Nino is forming, and millions of food-insecure people are in its path. Strong El Nino conditions are developing, threatening food security, agriculture and livelihoods across multiple regions into 2027,” the FAO report indicated.
For the first time, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are issuing a joint, forward-looking appeal for anticipatory action at scale, the report further indicated.
According to ClimateChange & Global Warming, the two agencies are positioned to immediately support 1.2 million people at risk from the predicted El Nino impacts. An additional USD 67 million (Sh21.6 billion) would extend anticipatory assistance to 7.6 million more.
For Kenya and other countries in Eastern Africa, the report warns that the biggest threat is likely to be unusually heavy rainfall and flooding.
It notes that El Nino affects different parts of Eastern Africa in different ways. While some areas may experience reduced rainfall, countries in the Horn of Africa, including Kenya, face a greater risk of floods.
“By contrast, between October and December, in the bimodal areas of the Horn of Africa, including Somalia, Kenya, Uganda and eastern Ethiopia, El Nino is linked to an increased risk of above-average rainfall and flooding,” the report says.
The report continues to indicate that El Nino is expected to bring significantly drier conditions to Southern Africa, Central America, parts of Asia and the Pacific, and Eastern Africa, while increasing the likelihood of floods and storms in the Horn of Africa and parts of Asia.
Among the key risks identified for Eastern Africa are crop losses and damage to agricultural infrastructure, livestock disease outbreaks, reduced milk production and animal losses, and population displacement and disruption of livelihoods.
Kenya appears on a list of priority countries identified by FAO and WFP for urgent support and preparedness efforts before the worst effects are felt.
The agencies selected the countries based on historical El Nino weather patterns, climate forecasts, food insecurity levels, agricultural calendars and their readiness to respond.
The report says Kenya is among high-risk countries where the two UN agencies are “strengthening readiness efforts and supporting the development or refinement of anticipatory action plans considering forecast El Nino risks.” The agencies say countries should begin preparations immediately because there is still time to reduce the impact of the expected weather shocks.
Recommended actions include sending early warnings to communities, providing cash support to vulnerable households, distributing seeds and farm inputs, improving water storage, vaccinating livestock and putting flood protection measures in place.
County Secretary Dr Maina disclosed that the devolved unit’s Department of Health had set up well-equipped isolation and holding areas in several sub-counties, trained health workers, activated a surveillance team, and begun sensitizing citizens on the Ebola virus.
He added that the Department of Agriculture was conducting a maize crop assessment, following cases of fog and pests threatening the crop’s growth, which poses a risk to many families, as maize is both a staple food and a cash crop for many.
Dr Maina further indicated that the Department of Infrastructure will soon undertake hazard mapping to identify risk-prone areas across the county.
By Esther Mwangi and Jefther Afuyo
