Kindiki: Don't panic over possible El Niño rains

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has assured Kenyans there is no cause for alarm over forecasts of possible moderate-to-strong El Niño rains later this year.

The Deputy President said the government has already activated measures to prepare for any eventualities.

Speaking at his office after chairing a high-level meeting on the country's food security situation on Thursday, Kindiki said the government was closely monitoring weather forecasts and had put all relevant ministries and agencies on high alert to ensure the country is not caught unprepared.

"We want to tell the public not to panic. We are engaged; all the ministries and agencies are engaged to ensure that in the event of the rains, the country is prepared and not taken by surprise," Kindiki said.

He said the government's priority is to minimise disruptions that could arise from heavy rainfall, including damage to infrastructure, public health emergencies and interruptions to the supply of essential goods.

"We want to ensure we do not have disruptions or public health concerns and that we take preventive measures in areas prone to flooding and landslides," he said.

The Deputy President emphasised that while the country currently enjoys stable food security, the government was adopting a proactive approach after receiving scientific forecasts indicating the likelihood of enhanced rainfall towards the end of the year.

"At the moment there is no cause for alarm as the government is continuously engaging," he said.

"Food security is stable but in the spirit of preparedness we have scientific information from weather experts that later in the year we will have enhanced rainfall in the form of El Niño."

Kindiki warned that if the forecasts materialise, the heavy rains could affect several sectors of the economy.

"This might affect food security, infrastructure, public safety, supply chains of basic commodities and public health," he said.

The meeting brought together Cabinet Secretaries Aden Duale (Health), Mutahi Kagwe (Agriculture), Davis Chirchir (Roads and Transport) and Deborah Barasa (Environment), among other senior government officials.

The Deputy President's remarks come days after the Cabinet approved the formation of an Ad Hoc Cabinet Committee on El Niño Preparedness and Response, which he will chair.

The decision was reached during a Cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, where ministers directed the committee to immediately operationalise a National El Niño Contingency Plan aimed at reducing the impact of climate-related disasters.

The contingency plan includes flood mitigation measures, evacuation and shelter arrangements for vulnerable communities, clearing blocked drainage systems, reinforcing roads and bridges prone to damage, pre-positioning emergency equipment and medical supplies, issuing advisories to farmers and establishing a contingency fund to support emergency relief, recovery and rehabilitation. 

According to the government, the coordinated approach is intended to strengthen national preparedness and ensure all agencies respond swiftly should the anticipated heavy rains occur.

Meteorological experts have warned that Kenya is among 22 countries worldwide that could experience significant impacts from a strengthening El Niño phenomenon expected to develop in the coming months.