NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Chief Justice David Maraga has accused the government of failing to adequately prepare for the forecast 2026/2027 El Niño rains, warning that the country risks a major humanitarian and economic crisis if urgent mitigation measures are not implemented.
In a statement issued on behalf of the United Green Movement (UGM) Party, Maraga, who is the party’s 2027 presidential flag bearer and co-party leader, claimed the government was “sleepwalking” the country into a predictable climate disaster despite warnings from meteorological agencies.
He cited forecasts from the Kenya Meteorological Department, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), which he said indicate an increased likelihood of an extreme El Niño season beginning in October and extending into early next year.
Maraga Raises Alarm Over Preparedness
Maraga argued that despite warnings from climate experts and humanitarian agencies, there was little visible evidence that the government had put in place adequate contingency plans.
He further noted that the United Nations had identified Kenya among countries facing heightened humanitarian risks from the anticipated weather event.
“Failure to prepare is not ignorance, it is negligence. The State cannot wait for floods, landslides, and disease outbreaks, then rush in with cameras and corrupt ’emergency’ tenders after lives and livelihoods have already been destroyed,” the statement said.
Potential Risks Highlighted
The UGM statement outlined several areas it believes could be significantly affected if the heavy rains materialise.
Agriculture and Food Security
The party warned that excessive rainfall could damage crops, particularly maize in Western Kenya and the North Rift, increasing the risk of crop losses, sprouting and aflatoxin contamination while threatening national food supplies.
Infrastructure and Environment
According to the statement, riverine flooding could affect areas along the Tana, Athi, Ewaso Nyiro and Lake Victoria basins, while counties including West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nakuru and Murang’a could face landslides and destruction of critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, schools and markets.
Public Health
The statement also cautioned that flooding could disrupt water and sanitation systems, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid, as well as malaria outbreaks in vulnerable communities.
Calls for Immediate Government Action
Maraga called on the government to immediately implement a national disaster preparedness plan, including protecting food reserves, reinforcing riverbanks, improving drainage systems and strengthening county emergency response mechanisms.
He also urged authorities to pre-position essential medical supplies in high-risk areas and publish evacuation plans for communities living in flood-prone and landslide-prone regions.
Among the proposals contained in the statement were:
- Deployment of government-supported mobile grain dryers and mechanical harvesters in key agricultural regions by August 10, 2026.
- Immediate release of county disaster mitigation funds and expansion of water-harvesting infrastructure in arid and semi-arid areas.
- Stockpiling of anti-malarial medicines, cholera vaccines and water purification supplies through the Ministry of Health and KEMSA.
- Publication of voluntary evacuation and resettlement plans for communities living in high-risk flood and landslide zones.
- Expansion of decentralised, solar-powered water-harvesting projects to capture excess floodwater for productive use.
Call for Accountability
Maraga maintained that government officials should be held accountable for any preventable deaths, destruction of infrastructure or disease outbreaks resulting from inadequate disaster preparedness.
He also warned against the misuse of public funds allocated for disaster response, saying emergency interventions should not become opportunities for corruption.
