NAIROBI, Kenya — Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang’i has challenged President William Ruto’s administration to demonstrate that Kenya is adequately prepared for potentially severe El Niño rains, warning that government announcements alone will not protect communities from flooding.
In a statement issued on Wednesday night, September 9, 2026, Matiang’i called for the government to move beyond warnings and public statements and put concrete preparedness measures in place ahead of the October–December rainfall season.
“El Niño is coming. A press statement is not a preparedness plan,” Matiang’i said.
His remarks came as the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) warned of a potentially very strong El Niño, placing the likelihood at 81 per cent and saying its effects could extend into 2027.
Matiang’i invokes past El Niño disasters
Matiang’i said Kenya had experienced the consequences of major El Niño episodes before, particularly in 1997 and 2023.
He argued that early warnings must be followed by early action to prevent communities from being caught unprepared when heavy rains begin.
“Kenya has been here before in 1997 and again in 2023. The warnings came early, yet action came too late,” he said.
The former Interior Cabinet Secretary said the government should publish county-level contingency plans identifying flood-prone areas and outlining how vulnerable communities would be protected.
He also called for disclosure of the actual budget allocated for El Niño preparedness and response.
Call for emergency supplies before rains
Matiang’i further urged the government to pre-position emergency supplies and rescue equipment in areas considered vulnerable to flooding.
He specifically called for relief supplies, rescue boats and other emergency resources to be deployed before heavy rains potentially make roads and other transport routes impassable.
“Pre-position relief supplies, rescue boats and other emergency resources now, before roads become impassable,” he said.
According to Matiang’i, preparedness should focus on what is physically available in vulnerable communities before the onset of severe weather rather than relying on commitments made after disasters occur.
Matiang’i demands independent verification
The Jubilee leader also called for independent verification of the government’s preparedness measures.
He said Kenyans should be able to assess the country’s readiness based on the resources and plans already in place rather than official statements.
“Allow independent verification of preparedness so that Kenyans can judge readiness by action, not press statements,” he said.
The demand places the government’s preparations under additional political and public scrutiny as the country approaches the October–December rainy season.
Government steps up preparations
Matiang’i’s intervention comes as the government steps up preparations for the expected rains.
Authorities have identified flood-risk areas, strengthened early-warning measures and announced plans to pre-position emergency resources in vulnerable locations.
The government has also been preparing for the possibility of severe weather conditions and their potential impact on communities, infrastructure and transport.
Matiang’i, however, said his team would monitor the government’s commitments and compare them with actual preparations on the ground.
Jubilee team to assess preparedness
Matiang’i said his team would track the government’s preparedness efforts in the coming weeks and publish an independent assessment before the rains begin.
“In the coming weeks, our team will track the Government’s commitments against actual delivery and publish an independent assessment of preparedness before the rains begin. Preparedness must be measured by what is in place before disaster strikes, not by what is promised when it does,” the statement read.
