NAIROBI, Kenya- The government has activated its national contingency plan ahead of forecast El Niño rains, placing search-and-rescue teams, evacuation centres and emergency supplies on standby.
The Ministry of Interior said the rains were expected to begin across the country in the coming days.
It said the response would be scaled up according to the severity and location of any flooding or other impacts.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has forecast above-normal rainfall during the October–December short-rains season.
Kenya News Agency reported that the department put the likelihood at 99 per cent, with rains potentially continuing into February 2027.
Rescue teams and evacuation sites on standby
The Kenya Coast Guard Service, Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, Kenya Red Cross Society and National Youth Service are among the agencies set to conduct round-the-clock search-and-rescue operations where needed.
The government said designated evacuation and displacement centres had been prepared, alongside a registration system to identify and track people displaced by the rains and coordinate assistance.
Alternative transport routes would be activated if roads were cut off, while air support could be mobilised through the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC).
Ten counties prioritised for food supplies
Food stocks have been pre-positioned in ten priority counties: Tana River, Garissa, Kisumu, Busia, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kilifi, Wajir, Mandera and Turkana.
The government also said relief supplies and emergency shelter materials were ready for deployment.
Monitoring systems would be activated to identify the needs of vulnerable people at evacuation sites.
Agricultural advisories will be issued according to local conditions, while livestock disease surveillance is due to be stepped up.
Health and education measures
The Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and the Incident Management System have been deployed to coordinate emergency health services and strengthen surveillance for waterborne and vector-borne diseases.
The ministry said supplies of therapeutic and supplementary nutrition products had been secured.
Water-quality monitoring will be intensified in affected areas, with water-treatment products distributed and sanitation facilities assessed to reduce contamination risks.
Education authorities will assess affected schools and protect learning materials if institutions are used as displacement centres.
Counties to lead local response
NDOC will coordinate the national response, while governors and county commissioners will lead preparedness, response and recovery through county disaster management committees and emergency operations centres.
At sub-county level, disaster management teams will coordinate alerts and first response with national administrators, community committees, community health promoters and local partners.
The government said humanitarian agencies had aligned their work with official response priorities.
Refugee operations in Dadaab, Kakuma and Kalobeyei will continue to be coordinated by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, in partnership with the Department of Refugee Services.
The government said it would continue monitoring conditions and updating its response as risks develop.
Kenya Met has also published an October 2026 monthly weather forecast.
